ECFA vital for Taiwan: VP

Speaking with a group of business and professional leaders in the southern city of Tainan, Siew said the present global trade trends feature region-to-region commercial interchanges rather than nation-to-nation.

"Taiwan's trade and business sectors will not be able to survive if they have no markets because the island is not part of any regional trade or business bloc," the vice president said.

To prevent that situation, Siew said, the government has been striving to keep Taiwan from being isolated or further marginalized, with the first remedial step being the signing of the ECFA with China.

He reiterated that while signing an ECFA will not be a panacea that will solve all the problems, not signing it will lead Taiwan to nothing but doom and gloom.

"Our strategy is to minimize the harm and increase the advantages to the highest possible level, " Siew said.

He reassured the public that while seeking to sign the ECFA, the government will stand fast upon its insistence that no Chinese laborers will be allowed to work in Taiwan and that Taiwan will not open any wider its agricultural market to Chinese imports.

Taiwan is an island economy with openness being a key characteristic, according to Siew, who added that when Dutch traders first made inroads into Taiwan 400 years ago, they were attracted by the country's unique trade characteristics.

"Global trade is Taiwan's lifeline. If Taiwan is absent from regional economic integration, the results will be horrible, " he said.

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