Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) Chairman Chiang Pin-kung (江丙坤) yesterday dismissed the idea of asking Beijing not to block other countries from signing free-trade agreements (FTA) with Taiwan, saying it was “inappropriate” to use such a demand as a precondition for the economic pact the administration intends to sign with Beijing in May.
If such a precondition were set, Chiang said, he was afraid that it would create “additional difficulties” and delay the negotiations for an economic cooperation framework agreement (ECFA).
Chiang made the remarks in an interview with former Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) chairman Hsu Hsin-liang (許信良) that was published online by the Formosa Weekly yesterday. The weekly was founded by former vice president Annette Lu (呂秀蓮).
Chiang said China might “have some opinions” on Taiwan’s effort to sign FTAs with other countries, but President Ma Ying-jeou’s (馬英九) government would do its best to pursue FTAs and seek Beijing’s support once the ECFA is signed.
As for the call made by the DPP to sign a trade agreement under the framework of the WTO, Chiang said the ECFA would be inked in accordance with the WTO’s “spirit and regulations.”
Both sides would follow up by signing another agreement on commodity trade and all the signed accords would be sent to the WTO for examination, he said.
When asked why the two sides couldn’t sign an FTA based on WTO rules, Chiang said such negotiations would take time, possibly one to two years, and therefore could not respond to the immediate impact of ASEAN Plus One.
“That’s why the government decided to refer to the negotiation model used by ASEAN countries and China,” he said.
“First we sign a framework agreement, including a list of ‘early harvest’ items, and then negotiate another agreement on commodity trade,” he said.
Because Ma has promised not to allow the import of more kinds of Chinese agricultural products, Chiang said there would be “absolutely no agricultural items in the initial planning.”
Since the ECFA would require legislation or legal revisions, the proposed pact would be sent to the legislature for review, he said, urging the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and opposition parties to cooperate to ensure speedy passage of the planned pact.
“If the two parties continue to oppose each other, it will eventually undermine Taiwan’s economic development,” he said.
DPP spokesman Tsai Chi-chan (蔡其昌), however, said that if the Ma government truly agreed that Taiwan should expand its trade, not only with China, it should make use of the ECFA negotiations to ask Beijing not to interfere with FTA negotiations with other countries.
“Chiang’s remarks proved again the KMT government wants to tie Taiwan’s economy to a single country — China,” Tsai said. “It’s regrettable the government is neglecting mainstream public opinion and Taiwan’s interests.”
Meanwhile, Vice President Vincent Siew (蕭萬長) yesterday reiterated the importance of signing an ECFA with China while addressing more than a dozen of Taiwan’s representatives to East Asian countries.
Siew called the proposed pact a “necessary condition” to Taiwan’s participation in regional economic integration.
The pact was a “threshold” that could “open a lot more doors for Taiwan” and avoid its marginalization and hollowing out in a fast-changing global economy, Siew said.
“Why is it important? Because we have many businessmen in China and we have huge investments there,” he said in a speech at an East Asia working meeting organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
“Taiwan needs an opportunity to participate in regional economic integration. The last thing we want is to be left out,” he said.
Taiwan might face marginalization in Asia unless it expands its market access with Beijing, especially since the ASEAN-China FTA took effect this month, he said.
“We must replace confrontation with conversation and tension with amity. Only by doing so, can cross-strait relations become normalized,” Siew said, adding that normalized trade relations with Beijing was key to Taiwan enjoying the same treatment and perks as it competes against the ASEAN-China FTA.
Siew also urged Taiwanese diplomats redouble their lobbying efforts for a FTA or similar trade deal with their host countries.
However, the efforts would bespent in vain, Siew said, unless Taiwan first forges a sound trade relationship with Beijing. The removal of he “road blocks” would encourage other countries to start a dialogue with Taiwan, he said.
Siew said signing the proposed ECFA did have potential setbacks and negative impacts for Taiwanese industry, so it was important for the government to install safeguard measures to cushion the possible blows.
National Security Council Secretary-General Su Chi (蘇起) also spoke at the ministry forum but that part of the meeting was closed to the media.
ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY RICH CHANG AND CNA
Also See: ECFA threatens Taiwan’s surplus
SECURITY: As China is ‘reshaping’ Hong Kong’s population, Taiwan must raise the eligibility threshold for applications from Hong Kongers, Chiu Chui-cheng said When Hong Kong and Macau citizens apply for residency in Taiwan, it would be under a new category that includes a “national security observation period,” Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) Minister Chiu Chui-cheng (邱垂正) said yesterday. President William Lai (賴清德) on March 13 announced 17 strategies to counter China’s aggression toward Taiwan, including incorporating national security considerations into the review process for residency applications from Hong Kong and Macau citizens. The situation in Hong Kong is constantly changing, Chiu said to media yesterday on the sidelines of the Taipei Technology Run hosted by the Taipei Neihu Technology Park Development Association. With
CARROT AND STICK: While unrelenting in its military threats, China attracted nearly 40,000 Taiwanese to over 400 business events last year Nearly 40,000 Taiwanese last year joined industry events in China, such as conferences and trade fairs, supported by the Chinese government, a study showed yesterday, as Beijing ramps up a charm offensive toward Taipei alongside military pressure. China has long taken a carrot-and-stick approach to Taiwan, threatening it with the prospect of military action while reaching out to those it believes are amenable to Beijing’s point of view. Taiwanese security officials are wary of what they see as Beijing’s influence campaigns to sway public opinion after Taipei and Beijing gradually resumed travel links halted by the COVID-19 pandemic, but the scale of
A US Marine Corps regiment equipped with Naval Strike Missiles (NSM) is set to participate in the upcoming Balikatan 25 exercise in the Luzon Strait, marking the system’s first-ever deployment in the Philippines. US and Philippine officials have separately confirmed that the Navy Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System (NMESIS) — the mobile launch platform for the Naval Strike Missile — would take part in the joint exercise. The missiles are being deployed to “a strategic first island chain chokepoint” in the waters between Taiwan proper and the Philippines, US-based Naval News reported. “The Luzon Strait and Bashi Channel represent a critical access
Pope Francis is be laid to rest on Saturday after lying in state for three days in St Peter’s Basilica, where the faithful are expected to flock to pay their respects to history’s first Latin American pontiff. The cardinals met yesterday in the Vatican’s synod hall to chart the next steps before a conclave begins to choose Francis’ successor, as condolences poured in from around the world. According to current norms, the conclave must begin between May 5 and 10. The cardinals set the funeral for Saturday at 10am in St Peter’s Square, to be celebrated by the dean of the College