Taiwan Today

The fourth round of talks between Taiwan’s Straits Exchange Foundation and mainland China’s Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Strait could take place in late July or August. According to a person familiar with the matter, Beijing has agreed to move the talks up from October if Taiwan was adequately prepared. Details regarding the signing of a proposed cross-strait economic cooperation framework agreement are expected to be included in discussions. President Ma Ying-jeou previously said that if the conditions are ripe, the proposed ECFA could be inked during the upcoming round of SEF-ARATS talks. This will enable Taiwan to enjoy the benefits of liberal trade on a global scale and boost its competitiveness. A delegation headed up by the Legislature’s Finance Committee, which also includes Ministry of Economic Affairs officials, will visit the mainland next month to discuss and exchange opinions on the proposed ECFA with their cross-strait counterparts. During a May 26 meeting with outgoing Kuomintang Chairman Wu Poh-hsiung, Chinese President Hu Jintao expressed hope of signing the ECFA in the latter half of the year. Wang Yi, director of the mainland’s Taiwan Affairs Office, said during last month’s Straits Forum that Beijing planned to accelerate the pace of ECFA discussions with Taipei. Initial indications from Beijing revealed concern over whether Taiwan could reach internal agreement on the ECFA issue. However, this faded away following positive responses from local representatives of the island’s fishery and agricultural sectors, and local administrations. With year-end county magistrate and city mayor elections looming, the pressure will be on Ma, who is sure to replace Wu as KMT chairman Sept. 12, to lead the party to victory. Signing the proposed ECFA has to be advanced otherwise it may affect the results of elections. In related news, after Ma assumes KMT chairmanship, and if the ECFA is inked at that time, it is expected that SEF Chairman Chiang Pin-kun will resign. Chiang has already floated the idea with the president in light of his age and declining physical strength. (CYH/JSM)