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Updated Monday, December 19, 2011 0:16 am TWN, CNA

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SEF head urges mainland-based Taiwanese businesspeople to make wise election choice

KUNSHAN, China--Taiwan's top negotiator with China called Saturday for Taiwanese businessmen operating in mainland China, commonly known as “Taishang,” to make wise and important choices in the upcoming presidential election.

Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) Chairman Chiang Pin-kung said cross-strait relations are presently at a crucial juncture and Taiwan, in particular Taishang, cannot afford retrogression of the hard-earned cross-strait rapprochement that has been achieved since President Ma Ying-jeou took office in 2008.

The future of Taishang's operations in China relies heavily on the SEF's negotiations with Beijing on the basis of the “1992 Consensus,” Chiang said.

He was referring to a tacit understanding between Taiwan and China reached in 1992 that there is only one China, with each side free to interpret what that means.

Based on the “1992 Consensus,” the Ma administration has managed to conclude 16 agreements with China over the past three years, he said. These include the opening of direct cross-strait air and sea links, the Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA), and a cross-strait financial pact, which has helped to meet Taishang's needs for funds and loans, he said.

The ruling Kuomintang (KMT) has been using “the 1992 Consensus” as the foundation for negotiations with the mainland. The consensus was reached when the KMT was in power, with Su Chi, then Mainland Affairs Council minister, coined the term in 2000.

However, the opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has denied the existence of the consensus. Refusing to recognize the “1992 Consensus,” DPP Chairwoman and presidential candidate Tsai Ing-wen has advocated a “Taiwan consensus” during her campaign.

“Because you are smart, I believe you know who you should vote for,” Chiang told Taishang representatives.

Chiang made his pitch for KMT support at an event that marked the seating of a new president of a Taiwanese investors' association in Kunshan, near Shanghai, where many Taishang manufacturing operations are located.

Lee Kuan-hsin, the newly elected head of the Kunshan association, said as far as he knows, about 80 percent of Taishang companies in the Kunshan area will give their Taiwanese staff paid leave to return home for the presidential and legislative elections. The elections will be held Jan. 14, roughly one week before Chinese New Year eve, which falls on Jan. 22.

Lee said a number of Taishang have been unable to obtain flights home because of a shortage of seats. There is high demand because a majority of Taishang would like to return to Taiwan for the elections as well as the Chinese New Year holiday, he said.

According to Kuo Shan-hui, chairman of the Association of Taiwan Investment Enterprises on the Mainland, at least 200,000 Taishang operating around China will return to Taiwan to vote.

“The shortage of seats is especially keen in Suzhou, Shanghai and Dongguan,” Kuo said.

He urged the government to help convince the airlines to make more seats available on the cross-strait route before Jan. 14.

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