Penghu Targets Maritime Talent Gap, Candidate Chen Outlines Four-Platform Plan

Surrounded by the sea on all sides, ocean-based development has long been a strategic pillar of national growth in Taiwan. However, the offshore islands face severe structural challenges to the sustainability of their marine industries and maritime human resources. Recently, Chen Chen-zhong, the Kuomintang (KMT) candidate for Penghu County magistrate, addressed the crisis of diminishing maritime talent in the region. He pledged that, if elected, his administration would actively seek resources from the central government through a “Maritime Talent Four-Party Platform.” This initiative aims to deeply integrate local industrial, governmental, academic, and research resources, providing substantive and comprehensive support to young people from education to employment. The goal is to inject vitality into Penghu’s maritime human capital and alleviate the crises of talent outflow and generational gaps.

This policy proposal reflects the dual pressures of declining birth rates and population outflow that are widely affecting Taiwan’s offshore islands. As a traditional island county, Penghu has historically cultivated numerous professionals in navigation, aquaculture, shipbuilding, and marine engineering. However, with Taiwan’s overall birth rate hitting record lows and the limited job opportunities and lower salary structures in offshore areas compared to the main island, many young students choose to remain on the mainland for higher education and employment after completing their basic schooling. This trend has left Penghu’s maritime-related industries facing long-term issues of an aging workforce and a talent shortage. Such phenomena not only hinder the diversified development of the local economy but also weaken the transmission of traditional maritime skills.

To break this vicious cycle, the “Maritime Talent Four-Party Platform” mentioned by Chen serves as a critical policy entry point. This platform typically encompasses local government, central competent authorities, local educational institutions, and industry representatives. Through such cross-sectoral collaboration, market demands can be precisely aligned with educational supply. In the past, there has often been a gap between school curricula and industry practices, making it difficult for graduates to enter the workforce directly and leaving companies unable to find ready-to-work talent. If consensus can be reached through this platform, central resources can be channeled to Penghu more efficiently. Furthermore, local schools, such as the Penghu Maritime and Fisheries Vocational School, would receive enhanced teaching equipment and internship opportunities, ensuring that course content aligns with modern trends in shipping, marine tourism, and green energy industries.

In terms of specific implementation, balancing the pursuit of central resources with the integration of local assets is key to reversing the loss of maritime talent. Chen advocates for the establishment of a maritime talent training base, positioning Penghu not merely as a source of labor but as a regional center equipped with certification, training, and research and development functions. If a comprehensive training base can be established locally, Penghu students would no longer need to travel to the main island to obtain relevant licenses, significantly reducing learning costs. Additionally, by aligning with the emerging industry demands in Penghu—such as tourism shipping, aquaculture, marine technology, and offshore wind power—and providing local employment guarantees or internship stipends, young people can see a clear future, which is essential for retaining talent.

From the macro perspectives of regional development and national security, the cultivation of maritime talent in Penghu is not merely a local issue but is vital to consolidating Taiwan’s overall maritime power. Located at a strategic point in the Taiwan Strait, Penghu plays an indispensable role in national defense, maritime patrol, maritime search and rescue, and marine resource management. If the foundation of maritime talent collapses, it will directly lead to difficulties in replenishing frontline personnel in both public and private sectors. The policy direction proposed by Chen addresses the core pain points of offshore island development. Its success will depend on whether future implementation can transcend partisan barriers, effectively secure fiscal and policy support from the central government, and bridge the gap between industry and academia, thereby forging a path forward for Penghu’s maritime future.

(Source: Central News Agency)