在皖台商的新年心声：两岸交流不是难题 未来发展充满信心******
中新社合肥1月17日电 题：在皖台商的新年心声：两岸交流不是难题 未来发展充满信心
中新社记者 张俊
“新的一年，两岸交流一定会更频繁，特别是民间交流合作会更加紧密。相信在同样的共识下，两岸的交流合作不会是一个难题。”近日，台湾工程师郑人豪在接受中新社记者采访时如是说。
今年49岁的郑人豪来自台湾台北，扎根安徽已近5年时间，幽默风趣的他形容自己是半个合肥人，无论是本地方言，还是民俗文化，他都耳熟能详。
郑人豪是合盟精密工业(合肥)有限公司总经理。2017年，当他刚刚走进公司所在的合肥新桥集成电路科技园时，这里还是一片荒地，周边除了正在建设的厂房，人烟寥寥。然而短短半年时间，在政府的支持和帮助下，工厂就建成交付，这让他非常感动。
郑人豪表示，大陆半导体产业已发展多年，并形成了完整产业生态圈，惟有部分关键零配件仍需进口。有着20多年从业经验的他，当时受所在公司委派，希望在大陆选择一地建厂，实现高端零配件的国产化，减少对进口的依赖。
怀揣着打造国产化高端零配件的目标，从2017年起，郑人豪与团队开始走访大陆多个城市与开发区，寻求在地理区位、地方政策、人才与配套适宜的厂址。经过调研讨论后，最终选定合肥为最佳落户建厂地点。
2018年，郑人豪和团队正式入驻合肥的公司，并一直工作至今。尽管遇到疫情，但公司依然快速发展。郑人豪说：“我很高兴当初选择来到合肥创业耕耘，如今企业不仅步入正轨，进入发展快车道，还培养了一批本土人才。”目前，郑人豪的公司有近50名员工，其中超过八成员工都是本地培养的人才。
郑人豪表示，大陆调整疫情防控政策后，台商将加大对安徽的投资，尤其是在高端制造等高新技术产业。新的一年，他也为公司制定了新的目标，对未来发展充满信心。
在大陆工作生活已有23年的黄宏洲来自台湾嘉义，来到合肥投资兴业也有14年时间，是合肥市台湾同胞投资企业协会会长。黄宏洲说，20多年来，他切身感受到大陆翻天覆地的变化，也亲眼见证到了安徽在经济社会发展的巨大成就，特别是在新型显示、高端装备、新能源汽车等高新技术产业的集聚发展。
黄宏洲表示，过去三年时间，尽管受到疫情影响，但台商台企来到大陆投资创业的热情并未减弱，其所在的协会先后接待了80多批来访的台商代表团。
黄宏洲说，新的一年，随着疫情防控政策的优化调整，在皖台商将加强与国际客商之间的交流频次，获得更多的发展合作机会，产业一定会得到更大的提升。“我们会积极发挥好桥梁纽带的作用，号召广大在皖台资企业抓住机遇，加快企业转型升级和创新发展，更加深入参与和支持皖台之间的交流合作。”
截至目前，安徽共有海峡两岸青年创业基地、台湾工业园等各类涉台园区19个，在安徽创业就业的台商、台青3000余人。(完)
中新网评：美国众议长选举“连续剧”暴露美式民主痼疾******
中新网北京1月9日电(蒋鲤)在15轮投票表决后，美国众议院议长选举这场“连续剧”终于落下帷幕，众议院共和党领袖凯文·麦卡锡最终成功当选第55任美国众议院议长。这是美国国会过去164年来耗时最久的一次议长选举记录，将美国“对抗式民主”的弊端暴露无遗。
资料图：美国众议院共和党领袖麦卡锡。中新社记者 沙晗汀摄
由于两党对立加剧、党派内斗、利益分配不均等因素，众议长选举陷入一场拉锯战。在此次众议长竞选中，美国民主党议员继续抱团，多轮投票中，一票不投麦卡锡，共和党右翼“强硬派”领头的约20人小团体也拒绝投票麦卡锡。
麦卡锡的当选之路一波三折，除了本人的“政治投机派”角色在国会不受欢迎外，与共和党内部政治分歧关系密切。
一方面，共和党党内反对者认为，麦卡锡对民主党态度过于软弱，无力对抗民主党控制的参议院和拜登政府，另一方面，因为共和党的多数优势微弱，党内一些影响力较小的派系的政治力量则被放大，有利于他们巩固自己的选票。
此外，党内反对者也认为，自己的选票没有换取更多利益，希望以此作为筹码换取麦卡锡更大的让步，比如让他们获得众议院重要委员会中的职务。
作为仅次于美国总统、副总统的政坛三号人物，众议院议长通常由众议院多数党领袖担任，选举几乎没有悬念。然而，麦卡锡此次为当选，不得不做出多个关键让步，其中可能包括恢复一项罢黜议长动议机制，使得众议长的权力被削弱，难以掌控众议院。
美国有线电视新闻网CNN称，麦卡锡在这场不合时宜的政治勒索中作出让步，这种绥靖政策只会让极端主义势力更加强大。
这场引发全世界围观的尴尬选举暴露出美国政治存在严重的对立和分化。在权力博弈思维的裹挟下，党派利益凌驾于国家和人民利益之上，美国两党相互拆台，陷入“为反对而反对”的无脑对垒。而即便是一党内，也会因为利益分配问题产生不同的小派系，相互对抗，选票变成了谋利益的工具。
从国会山骚乱到打破记历史记录的15轮众议长选举，“对抗式民主”让美国政治陷入瓶颈，长期对抗势必会让政客们丧失客观公正的判断能力，其政治阶层是否有能力治理国家也会引发质疑。
两党之争和党派内斗进一步放大了美国政治体制弊病，美国所谓的“民主”形象，让全世界大跌眼镜。鼓吹以选民利益为先的美式选举，变成了政客们利益置换的游戏，进一步彰显出美国“民主政治”日渐失能，不断极化的党争已使美国政治制度陷入死循环。
House speaker election reveals deep-rooted problems in U.S. democracy
(ECNS) -- The Republican leader Kevin McCarthy was elected as the 55th speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives after 15 ballots. As the most grueling House speaker election in the past 164 years, the election has highlighted the defects of the country’s "confrontational democracy".
The election once reached a stalemate due to intense partisan strife, inner-party struggle among the Republicans, uneven distribution of interests, and more. Democratic Party members forged a close alliance, refusing to vote for McCarthy, while about 20 Republicans also declined to cast ballots for the GOP leader.
Except for his unpopular role as a "political speculator" in Congress, McCarthy’s hard-won election can be attributed to turmoil within the Republican Party.
On the one hand, opponents in the Republican Party believe that the GOP leader's attitude toward the Democrats is too weak to confront the Senate controlled by Democrats and the Biden administration.
On the other hand, the political power of some less influential factions in the Republican Party has been amplified due to the Party’s weak majority advantage in the House of Representatives, which is conducive to consolidating their ticket warehouses.
Meanwhile, these opponents believe that their votes failed to win them more benefits, hoping to use this as a bargaining chip for McCarthy's further concessions, such as getting them positions in important House Committees.
As the third political figure after the President and Vice President of the U.S., the speaker, by tradition, is the head of the majority party in the House of Representatives.
But McCarthy has made many concessions in order to bring the ultra conservatives along, involving what’s known as the “motion to vacate,” a mechanism by which members can force a vote to depose the speaker. The reported concessions will empower individual members at the expense of McCarthy’s sway as speaker.
CNN thought the concessions he made during this unseemly political shakedown would only make the extremist faction more powerful.
This embarrassing election, which has drawn global attention, exposed the serious opposition and polarization in American politics. Both Democrats and Republicans put their interests before that of the country and its people, attacking and opposing each other irrationally.
Besides, different factions arise within a single party and confront each other because of the distribution of interests. Votes have become a tool to win more benefits.
From Capitol riots to the House Speaker election with record-breaking ballots, "confrontational democracy" has become a bottleneck of American politics. Long-term confrontation will surely impede politicians to think objectively and fairly while their capacity of governing the country will also raise doubts among the public.
Both parties’ struggle and infighting among the Republicans have further amplified the defects of the American political system, with its "democratic" image shocking the world.
The U.S.-style election, which advocates putting voters' interests first, has become a game of interest exchange among politicians. In addition, it further demonstrates the malfunction of American "democratic politics" and the constantly polarized party struggle that has trapped the American political system into an infinite cycle.
