Before the two governments established diplomatic relations, Taiwanese business people were mostly left on their own. Given the different laws and language in this foreign land, many just gave up and went back to Taiwan in frustration. "What most Taiwanese business people have learned is that it's better to operate a low-asset business. Even if you go in the tank, you won't lose too much," says Chu Hui-chun.
兩國政府未建交之前，台商多自力救濟，彼此照應，但他鄉異地，法令、語言不通的情況下，「丟盔棄甲」黯然離去的也大有人在，「台商的心得是，以經營資產額低的行業為主，即使『被坑』，也不會損失太多」，朱慧君說。