Gov't resolute on ECFA

When meeting with a group of outstanding managers, Ma said it will be detrimental to Taiwan's future without the proposed trade pact across the Taiwan Strait.

His statements came after his Kuomintang's (KMT) setback in the just-concluded weekend local elections, which some had interpreted as the result of public discontent with the performance of the Ma administration, and notably among them, concerns over his proposed trade pact with China.

Ma made it clear that the ECFA issue will not be discussed in the upcoming cross-strait meeting later this month, although the two sides will exchange views on the trade pact after the meeting.

He pointed out that the fourth and latest round of meetings between P.K. Chiang, chairman of the Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF), and Chen Yunlin, president of the Beijing-based Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS), will mainly focus on four technical issues. The four issues cover fishery cooperation, avoidance of double taxation, examination and certification of standards and the inspection and quarantine of agricultural products for public health.

Ma said these four issues are simply technical concerns laying down the ground rules for the thriving cross-strait trade, and he has asked relevant government agencies to make public all the details to dispel misunderstandings and misconceptions. He cited the recent signing of a memorandum of understanding on cooperation concerning financial supervision between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait as an example, saying that it was immediately posted on the Web site of the Financial Supervisory Commission (FSC) after the signing.

He said that the MOU was signed under the principles of “dignity and reciprocity,” and there is no question of “status downgrading or sovereignty being compromised” to affect the interests of Taiwan. Ma also pledged that the ECFA deal will also be secured in a same “open and transparent” environment.

He stressed that all of his administration's policies are to promote Taiwan's interests, safeguard its sovereignty, and benefit the people.

“The government will uphold such principles and attach great importance to reciprocity and dignity in cross-strait consultations,” Ma said.

1|2|Next Page>>

SharePrintEmail

Write a Comment

Terms

Enter your comments - 3000 characters max

Type in image code

Submit

 Receive China Post promos
 Respond to this email