Gov't resolute on ECFA

The government will “let the public learn more about the pact in a transparent environment. If it is not transparent enough, then the public will have misunderstandings and hamper its passage,” Ma said. In fact, Ma noted that the government has sponsored hundreds of presentations since March to explain the trade pact, which is intended to promote normal cross-strait trade relations, avoid the island being marginalized in regional trade and enhance the globalization of Taiwan.

However, the opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and other organizations promoting Taiwan independence have more successfully propagated the possible misgivings and negative impacts on Taiwan from the ECFA.

The pro-DPP media and underground radio stations around Taiwan continued highlighting that the trade pact would flood Taiwan with cheaper Chinese products, cause tremendous job losses and make Taiwan too dependent on China.

Responding to Ma's promise to place the ECFA under absolute scrutiny by the Legislative Yuan, DPP Chairwoman Tsai Ing-wen said it is inadequate by subjecting the trade pact to the supervision of lawmakers because the parliament is now controlled by the KMT. Tsai said the DPP will continue pushing for holding a national referendum on the ECFA issues.

Analysts said the DPP plan is part of its election tactics to postpone the talks on the ECFA and dampen cross-strait exchanges so as to keep the issues alive to gain more ballots in future elections. The DPP had deftly seized the controversies involving the ECFA and the widening imports of American beef to its election advantage in last week's local elections, some analysts noted.

The DPP are planning large-scale protests against the upcoming Chiang-Chen talks in central Taichung, although officials said the negotiations will focus on certain technical issues, like fishery cooperation.

Conceding that government agencies have obviously not done enough to counter the misinformation campaign of the opposition camp, Ma said the government should step up communications to dispel the misleading information. Ma pointed out that the former DPP government opened imports of close to 1,000 agricultural products from China while his administration opened not a single item since his inauguration one year and seven months ago.

The government must relay the correct information to the public through more effective communications, Ma stressed.

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