Some pundits believe that the Cross-strait Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA) signed June 29 between Taiwan and mainland China could push Taiwan into a tighter embrace with China and, eventually, lead to reunification, which the Taiwanese public rejects. To allay such doubts and also explain the reasons that motivated Taiwan to sign the ECFA, Johnny Chi-chen Chiang, minister of Taiwan's Government Information Office, made a strong pitch for the pact before a gathering of academics, foreign policy experts, decision makers and the international media July 14 at the Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Relations in New York City.
Pointing out that Taiwan's export-oriented economy is heavily dependent on trade, he said Taiwan could not allow itself to become economically marginalized. Chiang explained that ROC President Ma Ying-jeou pursues a policy of rapprochement that has contributed to a lessening of tensions in the Taiwan Strait.
The ECFA eliminates tariffs on a wide range of products and is expected to bolster Taiwan's exports to mainland China. Beijing has replaced the U.S. as Taipei's number one trading partner, with two-way trade accounting for nearly 29 percent of the island's total external trade in 2009; indeed, 41 percent of Taiwan's exports are destined for mainland China, according to Chiang.
Chiang argued that ECFA "represents three giant steps forward." "It is one giant step for overcoming Taiwan's economic isolation," he said. "It is also one giant step toward mutually beneficial cross-strait trade and cooperation, and finally, it is one giant step for speeding up integration of Asia."
Mainland China is our number one market. Besides, we expect 60,000 additional jobs to be created in Taiwan in certain sectors as a result of the ECFA," he claimed.
Chiang said President Ma had categorically stated that relations with the mainland would be characterized by "three nos"--no reunification, no independence and no use of force. "ECFA is an economic and not a political agreement," he emphasized.
Our relationship with mainland China is based on parity, mutual respect and mutual benefit," he told the audience, in a bid to allay doubts in the minds of some in the U.S. that Taiwan was compromising its hard-earned democratic values and ideals. "We can and will defend our democracy. � Our democracy is non-negotiable." Source: Manik Mehta, Taiwan Today, Aug 6, 2010).