Now that the cross-strait economic cooperation framework agreement has been signed, Taiwan will be able to enjoy a more level playing field when it comes to international trade, President Ma Ying-jeou said June 30.
The president made the remarks while receiving a delegation of expatriate scholars in the Presidential Office. He noted that Taiwan is expected to sign several other accords with mainland China in the near future.
“Inking ECFA is just the beginning,” the president said. “Agreements on protection of investments and dispute settlements will soon follow suit.”
An additional benefit of the ECFA, Ma noted, is that it puts Taiwan in a better position to sign free trade agreements with its major trading partners. Once these FTAs are concluded, he observed, the nation’s exporters will be the first to benefit.
Ma also challenged reports in the local media suggesting that the trade deal represents a “selling out” of Taiwan. Claims made by the opposition Democratic Progressive Party that the ECFA creates a “one-China market” are “very unprofessional,” he said.
“We will be able to carry out the task of economic restructuring only when our nation is at peace,” Ma said. For this reason, Ma continued, improving cross-strait relations has remained one of his most important tasks ever since he took office in 2008.
“For Taiwan, the mainland represents both an opportunity and a threat,” he said. “As we interact with mainland China, the key is for us to maximize the opportunities while minimizing the risks.”
Later in the day the president met with the Central Standing Committee of the ruling Kuomintang, during which he again stressed the many benefits that will follow from the recently-signed trade agreement.
Ma, who is also chairman of the KMT, noted that the agreement has normalized cross-strait trade, now worth hundreds of billions of U.S. dollars per year.
The agreement will prevent Taiwan from becoming marginalized in the world economy, he noted.
Ma also reiterated to the committee that his administration will actively look into the possibility of entering into FTAs with its major trading partners. (HZW)
Write to Audrey Wang at audrey@mail.gio.gov.tw