The actions of the students have compromised the legislative and executive operations of the government, Ma said. Taiwan’s hard-earned democracy must be preserved and the Legislature’s rules and regulations respected, he added.
It is important to understand that the legislative review process has not been completed and any opinions can still be heard, the president said. The students should vacate the Legislature so operations can return to normal in line with public expectations, he added.
Ma said Legislative Yuan President Wang Jin-pyng must now work with the ruling and opposition parties so as to get the item-by-item review process back on track.
The president made the remarks during a specially convened media conference at the Presidential Office in Taipei City.
According to Ma, the spirit of democracy, which is based on the rule of law, must be respected. Following five direct presidential elections and seven constitutional revisions over the past 20 years, Taiwan’s democracy is exemplary in the Chinese-speaking world, he said.
It is necessary to adhere to the ROC Constitution and rule of law so as to safeguard this accomplishment, he added.
Ma said passage of the agreement is crucial to Taiwan’s future economic and trade competitiveness, and marks another step toward liberalization and internationalization.
The pact is viewed by the government as an indicator of Taiwan’s commitment to further trade liberalization and regional integration, as well as its readiness for participating in trade blocs such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership and Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, he added.
It is vital that legislative review of the pact be completed as soon as possible, Ma said, adding that this helps ensure Taiwan does not fall behind Japan, Singapore, South Korea and mainland China in regional trade integration.
The president said there seems to be misunderstandings about the agreement, and the government will work to clear these up while better educating the public on the merits of the pact. Claims that Taiwan is poised to suffer a large-scale invasion of mainland Chinese laborers and immigrants are simply untrue, he added.
Over the past five years, Taiwan has gradually opened to mainland Chinese investment. The government maintains a strict pre- and post-investment review process, with violators required to terminate business ventures, Ma said.
A total of 27 of the 64 specific commitments made by Taiwan under the agreement are open already, the president said, citing the car rental, Chinese medicine wholesale and restaurant businesses. This has resulted in limited impact, he added.
Ma said the government has put strict regulations in place to ensure the pact will not detrimentally impact national security, as well as industry and employment. In addition, there are clauses in the pact allowing for future adjustments if the need arises, he added.
An NT$98.21 billion (US$3.2 billion) support program for assisting local industrial and labor markets adjust to any stresses brought about by the agreement has been devised, the president said, adding that this will provide expanded assistance in industrial revitalization, restructuring and relief.
The president acknowledged the students’ passion and said he understands that young people care about national affairs. Their participation augurs well for the future of the nation, he added. (JSM)
Write to Chen Yi-hsuan at yhchen05@mofa.gov.tw