ROC President Ma Ying-jeou said his administration’s policies are correct and should be continued once his second term concludes in May 2016.
“We have transformed our relationship with mainland China from one marked by confrontation and conflict into one marked by negotiation and rapprochement,” Ma said.
This has seen the two sides conclude 21 agreements, he added, stating that the benefits go far beyond trade and investment. “Taiwan’s social order has also seen an improvement and our relations with the rest of the world have made gains.”
The president’s remarks were contained in an interview published by The Wall Street Journal May 10 in which he discussed a variety of issues like the current state of Taipei-Beijing relations, Taiwan’s bid for greater participation in economic integration and his presidential legacy.
According to Ma, the peaceful development of cross-strait relations has created many opportunities for Taiwan, with half of those beneficiaries the country’s small and medium enterprises.
As Taiwan readjusts its economic structure going forward, the president said services and traditional industries will be where most jobs are created.
In this regard, Ma sees the cross-strait trade in services agreement as playing a key role. “Cross-strait trade is not just about Taiwan and mainland China. It also affects how other international trading partners view our integrity and sincerity,” he said.
Taiwan has the potential for trade in services, but has not been able to realize its potential, the president said. “If we continue to shrink away because of political reasons, it is not in the interests of Taiwan.”
In terms of the country’s bid for participation in the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, Ma said although Taiwan cannot apply to join as a founding member, announcing this intention was the right thing to do.
“Our interest in becoming a full official member has not changed,” he said, adding that Taiwan would like to participate under the name “Chinese Taipei.”
As to his legacy as president of the ROC, Ma said he has made strong gains in realizing his vision of a free, democratic and prosperous Taiwan; peaceful relations with mainland China; and a friendly international environment.
On the domestic front, this approach has paid handsome dividends as evidenced by a bullish stock market, falling unemployment rate, more equitable distribution of wealth and robust economic growth.
ROC nationals now enjoy visa-free privileges or similar treatment in 142 nations and territories. “This has afforded greater dignity to our people when traveling, representing an accomplishment I had not dreamed could come into fruition when I took office.”
Going forward, the president said he hopes to see Taiwan and mainland China continue improving exchanges by setting up representative offices in each other’s territories and concluding a trade in goods agreement.
At the same time, Taiwan needs to step up efforts when it comes to signing free trade agreements with its major partners, including members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation and EU, Ma said.
“We have made a start, and moving forward should be smoother sailing than in the past.” (SFC-JSM)
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