Made In Taiwan

- Simon Murray

Two things stayed with me after a trip to Taiwan in March for the Taiwan International Boat Show (TIBS), now in its third year. The first was the seemingly blink-and-you’ll-miss-it moment I experienced while riding one of the country’s bullet trains, which was hurtling over the countryside at 186 miles per hour: a group of Buddhist monks practicing midday meditation in a temple courtyard, their brightly colored robes unmistakable in the hazy sunshine. The sight produced an arresting, we’re not in Kansas anymore feeling that I hadn’t had in some time—certainly not on a train.

The second thing that made an impression on me happened much more gradually. It was the dawning realization of just how many yachts are produced on an annual basis in Taiwan, an island country roughly a third of the size of Ohio. (One hundred and sixty two yachts were exported in 2017.) The country’s largest yacht companies first came onto the scene in the ’80s, and after weathering a few financial downturns, Taiwan has returned to its heavyweight-contender status in the international marine industry, cementing itself as the biggest yacht manufacturer in Asia.