Endorsements for ECFA vote sent to CEC

TAIPEI, Taiwan -- The opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) yesterday sent to the Central Election Commission (CEC) a total of 150,000 endorsements needed to initiate a proposal to hold a public referendum on whether or not Taiwan should sign a planned economic cooperation framework agreement (ECFA) with China.

DPP chairperson Tsai Ing-wen, Chairman Huang Kuen-hui of the Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU), and convener-in-chief of the Taiwan Nation Alliance jointly held a press conference to announce the successful collection of the endorsements from initiators of the proposal.

At the press conference, Tsai urged the Taiwanese people not to give up their rights to vote for or against the ECFA issue.

Tsai said if the government signs the ECFA with China, it will affect the reinvestment and redistribution of social wealth.

“The choice of economic and social cultures is a solid content of sovereignty, rather than having nothing to do with state sovereignty as claimed by the Ma Ying-jeou administration. Accordingly, the DPP has asserted that before the ECFA is signed, a national referendum on the issue should be held,” Tsai said.

Tsai also called for the Ma administration not to shun the ECFA referendum issue by using various ways to interrupt, postpone or boycott the holding of the public referendum. “Otherwise, they will pay for it,” Tsai said.

In response, Vice Minister Teng Chen-chung of the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA), which is responsible for drafting the ECFA proposal, said that his ministry respects different opinions concerning the ECFA issue, but all relevant sectors had better seek consensus on the substantive contents of the pact via intensive discussions, instead of wasting social resources.

Also yesterday, the MOEA unveiled a couple of cartoon figures to publicize the four letters of “ECFA” and introduce the “ECFA” to the Taiwanese people in a plain way. The ministry hoped the two figures will squelch all worries and doubts of local people about possible adverse effects of the signing of an ECFA.

In addition, in an effort to cushion the impact of the ECFA on traditional industries, the MOEA has decided to set up an exclusive fund of over NT$30 billion to help over 3,000 makers in such traditional industries as towels, footwear, garment, stockings, beddings, underwear and sweaters to upgrade their production to survive the impact.

Think tanks on both sides of the Taiwan Strait will move to jointly study the various aspects of the ECFA between July and September, and bilateral negotiations on the signing of the pact will be kicked off in October.

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Comments
July 22, 2009    mcwizard@
This is a gross waste of time and the tax payer's money. The DPP will do anything to try and stay in the news. Shame on you! Remember, the DPP obtained its early wealth by cooperating with the Japanese occupiers for 50 years, and will do anything for money. They have shown their true colors as traitors.
July 23, 2009    milkyway@
The DPP and the TSU never get tired of obstructing the gov't framework for the betterment of Taiwan's future since they lost the presidential and legislative election. Their political motive is to aggravate against the new administration under the KMT. They will never rest in peace as long as Taiwan's country name is Republic of China.

Do the DPP and the TSU want Taiwan to be part of JAPAN?
July 23, 2009    hft33362003@
Allow me to refer to your comment, milkyway@, DPP & TSU may want to be part of Japan but would Japan dare to annexe Taiwan.
In another way of saying DPP & TSU love Japan but would Japan love Taiwan under DPP & TSU both of whom (or at least DPP) are looters of the country's coffer.
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 Endorsements for ECFA vote sent to CEC 
The Ministry of Economic Affairs yesterday kicked off a campaign to promote the proposed economic cooperation framework agreement (ECFA) to be signed with China, utilizing two cartoon figures to introduce the contents of the pact to the public in a clear manner. (CNA)

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