Ma aims for TPP eligibility in next term

The incumbent candidate posted his plans in an English-language address yesterday, during the 2011 American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham, 美國商會) Annual General Meeting in Taipei.

Ma called for mainland China to dismantle arms aimed at Taiwan, and reiterated his commitment to the “Three Nos” of no unification, no independence, and no use of force.

He pointed out his administration's progress in developing trade ties with mainland China. In the next four years, he expects to negotiate comparable links with the U.S. under the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) — Taiwan's best chance for securing a free trade agreement.

Ma said to AmCham that Taiwan is presently unqualified to join the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), a multilateral tariff-reduction trade agreement between the U.S. and Asia-Pacific partners.

Eligibility is a target of his golden decade platform, he stressed.

Despite the president's intent to join TPP, “we have yet to see the necessary determination and preparation made to facilitate such an effort,” retorted main opposition candidate Tsai Ing-wen.

Next up in the AmCham program, Tsai took the stage just after Ma's departure. She promised a more proactive government approach to TPP membership.

The Democratic Progressive Party's (DPP's) “Ten Year Policy Platform” liberalizes the Taiwan market by beefing up research and development and new industries like green energy and medical care. The platform prepares Taiwan for membership “in the shortest time possible,” she said.

Tsai tried to allay fears that her election will disrupt regional security.

“A peaceful and stable cross-strait relationship is key to continuing Taiwan and U.S. relations ... We will do what we can, without compromising Taiwan's fundamental interests, to ease tensions and foster an atmosphere where dialogue and interaction is possible,” she said.

She specifically courted the crowd, promising “drastic” cuts to “AmCham's current complaints on government efficiency.”

One complaint is obstacles to the entry of “senior experts and professionals,” according to Tsai.

The Ma administration has increased the number of unskilled foreign laborers by 16 percent, Tsai said, yet lowered the number of international professionals by 8 percent.

The DPP presidential hopeful was able to handle some tricky moments, like a smaller-than-expected crowd response to her preliminary afternoon greeting. Her party has really come to expect a greater commotion, she said wryly.

Later, Tsai pointed out that the presidential race was tight and that “there is a very real possibility that I will win.” When the crowd broke into applause, she remarked, “Now that's the response I was waiting for.”

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