The aftermath of the Asian economic crisis made 1998 a rough year around the world. Of all the nations of the East Asian "disaster area," only Taiwan has maintained nearly 5 % economic growth. When compared to the negative growth rates seen in Japan, Korea and Hong Kong, this is a noteworthy achievement.
一九九八年，全球在金融風暴的餘波中度過了不平安的一年，唯有台灣身處東亞「重災區」，仍然達成約百分之五的經濟成長率，對照日、韓、及香港等國家地區的負成長慘況，這份成績分外亮眼。