Better cross-Straits relations can help island boost its economic growth

A recent online poll showed about 80 percent of the netizens in Taiwan don't believe Su Tseng-chang can significantly promote economic growth after succeeding Lai Ching-te as the island's executive head, according to CTnews, a digital media outlet. The netizens' views are based on the past records of how much positive impact a change in the island's ruling party or "cabinet" leaders has had on economic development.

The Taiwan economy grew at an average annual rate of 9 percent from 1962 to 2000, making the island one of the top "Asian Tiger" economies, as well as creating an overall affluent society.

But since 2000, when the "pro-independence" Democratic Progressive Party assumed the island's leadership for the first time, Taiwan has seen a constant outflow of resources, a slowing economy, a growing gap between the rich and poor, stagnating wages, a widening fiscal gap, and an aging urban and rural society.