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Ma, Tsai square off in ECFA debate

President Ma Ying-jeou (left) and opposition Democratic Progressive Party Chairwoman Tsai Ing-wen exchange views on the ECFA in a nationally televised debate April 25. (CNA)

• Publication Date：04/26/2010
• Source： Taiwan Today
• By  Chiayi Ho

ROC President Ma Ying-jeou and opposition Democratic Progressive Party Chairwoman Tsai Ing-wen squared off in their first-ever televised debate over the proposed cross-strait economic cooperation framework agreement April 25.

The much-anticipated 140-minute event was an anticlimax of sorts with both participants sticking to their stated policy positions on the trade pact.

The immaculately coiffured Ma stayed on message throughout, stressing the need for Taiwan to sign the ECFA so it could access greater economic opportunities in regional and global markets.

“Signing an ECFA with Beijing will create conditions for another economic miracle on the island in 10 years time,” he said. “It is imperative that we act now or risk losing this opportunity forever.”

The president also warned that Taiwan faces a bleak economic future if it is excluded from Asia-Pacific’s march toward economic integration. “We are an export-oriented economy and the island’s enterprises cannot afford to have their lifeblood cut off.”

On this point, a relaxed and confident Tsai agreed with Ma that Taiwan must pursue trade liberalization measures. However, she demanded to know how the ECFA will affect Taiwan’s unemployment rate and sectors of the economy that risk being laid waste by mainland Chinese competition.

The president responded by defending the ECFA, claiming it would help Taiwan find a new lease on life and continue thriving amid fierce competition from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Japan and South Korea.

“We need to take action, otherwise, it will be too late,” he said. “The ECFA is urgent and necessary to Taiwan, and the government is poised to consolidate every step it takes.”

According to Ma, the ECFA is supported by numerous business groups and economists, including Taipei’s American and European chambers of commerce, Japanese management guru Kenichi Ohmae and Harvard University Business School Professor Michael Porter.

“These groups and experts agree that the ECFA will prevent Taiwan from being marginalized and losing competitiveness overseas,” he said.

Dismissing Tsai’s allegation that the government is “pro-Beijing” as “unfounded,” the president said his administration has pursued Taiwan’s opening to mainland China in a vigilant manner.

“Taiwan’s trade reliance on the mainland stood at 23 percent in 2000 [when the Kuomintang turned over power to the DPP], but soared to 40 percent in 2008 after eight years of DPP rule,” he said. “After seven months of Kuomintang governance, this changed by a mere one percentage point to 41 percent.”

The DPP leader repeatedly attacked Ma for keeping Taiwan’s 23 million in the dark over the ECFA, demanding he “turn on the light” before it was too late. “There must be greater public participation and transparency in ECFA negotiations,” Tsai said.

Ma hit back, stating that all ministries involved in the ECFA signing process are required to brief the Legislature regularly. “There are no secrets when it comes to the ECFA,” he said.

“We are more than willing to brief opposition lawmakers on the trade pact’s draft content and essence. But this has been made difficult as they keep boycotting such sessions in the Legislature.” (JSM)

Related link:
Excerpts of President Ma’s statement in televised debate over ECFA