🚆The southern extension of 🇹🇼 #HighSpeedRail stirred controversy: a🧵
HSR is the artery of #Taiwan, cnnctng our Western metropoleis in a safe, efficient&timely manner. The system was inaugurated in 2007 and its success sparked discussions about N- and S-ward extensions.
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Jan 11, 2021 · 2:40 PM UTC
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Today @eballgogogo announced southern extnsn to #Pingtung. Terminus near TRA Liukuaicuo Stn will provide access to new #sciencepark, opening 2029.
🧐Critics question, though, why HSR will still fail 2reach dwntwn #Kaohsiung, lrgst city in the South. [2/7]
focustaiwan.tw/business/2021…
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🤑I believe that it all comes down to equitable distribution of resources.
tl;dr: Extending HSR directly to Pingtung helps reducing subnational inequality!
Though neighbors, #Kaohsiung and #Pingtung differ significantly in terms of resources. [3/7]
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😤10 yrs since Ma Ying-jeou's reform of #subnational governments, inequalities b/w 6 major #urban centers&other municipalities remain staggering and continue to hinder #sustainable and equitable #development:
#Pingtung is 1 of the victims. [4/7]
cna.com.tw/news/aloc/2020121…
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🌿New HSR stations across #Taiwan have proven to spur #UrbanDevelopment. In Pingtung, the HSR extension is a part of a cohesive strategy consistent with the 5+2 Innovative Industries Plan&utilizing local capabilities in areas such as #agriculture. [5/7]
greengauge21.net/wp-content/…
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The new HSR station will become an "urban lobby" for Pingtung - positioning it as an attractive destination for both local and international investors (I see a lot of potential in cooperation under the #NewSouthboundPolicy!) which is easy to access. #Logistics are 🔑!! [6/7]
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🤝The announced HSR extnsn gives Pingtung a chance. In my hometown of #Chiayi, HSR brought about a new "HSR town" of more than 135 ha. Instead of deepening the already deep divide b/w the resource-rich KH&still largely rural Pingtung, HSR will bring positive change to PT! [7/7]
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