Socioeconomic Impact of the Taiwan Strait Tunnel

Abstract

This article discusses the possible socioeconomic impact of Taiwan Strait Tunnel from the perspective of the relationship between the construction of Taiwan Strait Tunnel and the socioeconomic development of the two sides of the Taiwan Strait and the surrounding areas. First of all, the construction of Taiwan Strait Tunnel in its conceptual stage depends on the socioeconomic development of the two sides of the Strait. Important basic conditions—such as the mainland's and Taiwan's future sustainable economic growth above what has already been achieved; their further development of economic, trade, and social ties; their political dialogue based on “the principle of one China”; and the progress of the peaceful reunification of the motherland—will decide the construction of the Taiwan Strait Tunnel. Under such conditions, once the Taiwan Strait Tunnel is operable, it will create a huge demand pull on the two sides of the Taiwan Strait and their surrounding areas for a long period and, thus, will bring about a sustainable increasing economic upsurge in the two sides. Secondly, once the Taiwan Strait Tunnel is open to traffic, its transport ability will be tremendous and will greatly influence the economic development of the two sides of the Strait and enhance their economic and trade ties and their personnel exchange. At the same time, the tunnel will not only form a new traffic pattern of the two sides of the Taiwan Strait, but it will also improve their traffic structure and expand their traffic scale to a large extent. It is certain that the construction of Taiwan Strait Tunnel will be a highly complex project of an all-time grand scale to be constructed over quite a long period. It will encounter a lot more restrictive factors than have ever been met in the fields of design, programming, techniques, equipment, organization of construction, and the operation and maintenance of the tunnel and line. Moreover, it will also encounter many important restrictive factors as a result of its socioeconomic impact.