ECFA

Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement

Polls

Survey on Cross-strait ECFA and Exchanges, Taiwanese’s View on Ultimate Unification with China and Independence and President Ma Ying-jeou’s Approval Rating (GVSRC, Dec. 22, 2009) 54.4 percent said signing ECFA is very important to Taiwan’s economy; meanwhile, 23.5 percent were content with President Ma’s performance.

60 Percent Support Systematic Cross-Strait Consultation: MAC
(CNA, Dec. 18, 2009) The Mainland Affairs Counci unveiled the results of a public opinion survey showing that nearly 60 percent of the respondents support systematic consultations between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait.

Most People Clueless about ECFA: Poll
(Taipei Times, Dec. 18, 2009) Most people have no idea what issues will be covered in cross-strait talks scheduled to take place in Taichung next week, the Democratic Progressive Party said.

China Times Public Opinion Poll on ECFA
(China Times, Dec. 11, 2009) A poll conducted by China Times on people’s opinions on the cross-strait ECFA, translated by the KMT news network.

Views on Current Cross-Strait Relations
(MAC, Oct. 2, 2009) A survey on people’s opinions on the cross-strait relations, conducted by the Mainland Affairs Council.

60% of People Support ECFA
(China Post, Jun. 2, 2009) Six out of every ten people in Taiwan support an economic cooperation framework agreement with China, according to a Credit Lyonnais Securities poll.

Survey on ECFA and Issues Associated with Mainland Capital Investments in Taiwan (MAC, Apr. 20, 2009) A survey conducted by the Mainland Affairs Council on ECFA and other issues.

Survey on Cross-Strait Economic Cooperation Agreement and President Ma Ying-jeou’s Approval Rating (GVSRC, Mar. 23, 2009) 68.2% of Taiwanese say they are concerned with signing an economic cooperation agreement with China. Meanwhile, President Ma’s approval rating ten months after his inauguration is 28.6%.

TVBS Poll on ECFA and National Identity
(TVBS Public Opinion Pall Center, Mar. 13, 2009) A poll conducted by TVBS on Taiwanese people’s opinion on ECFA with China and national identity.

Survey on Taiwanese People’s Attitude toward Economic Agreements with China and Cross-strait Exchanges (GVSRC, Nov. 10, 2008) 47.4% think the four agreements signed by SEF and ARATS in early November are beneficial to Taiwan.

DPP to Boycott MAC Briefing on ECFA
(CNA, Feb. 2, 2010) The opposition Democratic Progressive Party legislative caucus said that its members will not attend a briefing on a proposed economic cooperation framework agreement (ECFA) with China given by Mainland Affairs Council.

Taiwan Seeks to Join P4 Trade Group
(CNA, Jan. 30, 2010) Taiwan will continue its efforts to join the Trans-Pacific Strategic Economic Partnership Agreement (TPPA), despite several unsuccessful bids, the director-general of the Bureau of Foreign Trade said.

China, Taiwan to Speed Up Broad Trade Pact
(Reuters, Jan. 27, 2010) China and Taiwan agreed to speed up the process of negotiating a broad free trade-style at preliminary talks this week, a Beijing official said.

ECFA Talks Set for 26th
(China Post, Jan. 25, 2010) The first round of formal negotiations on a proposed economic cooperation framework agreement (ECFA) between Taiwan and China will take place in Beijing on Jan. 26.

China Will Not Block FTAs: MAC Chair
(Taipei Times, Jan. 23, 2010) Mainland Affairs Council Chairwoman Lai Shin-yuan said she believed Beijing would not obstruct Taiwan from signing free-trade agreements with other countries.

ECFA ‘Just the Beginning’: Ma
(Taipei Times, Jan. 22, 2010) The president told the ‘Taipei Times’ that an ECFA with China would help reduce obstructions to Taiwan’s efforts to sign FTAs with ASEAN members. Interview: ECFA Will Help Taiwan Catch Up with Asia

China Denies Supporting Taiwanese FTAs
(Taipei Times, Jan. 21, 2010) China’s Taiwan Affairs Office denied that its spokesman, Wang Yi, ever said that it would be to the advantage of both sides of the Strait if Taiwan could sign free trade agreements with other countries.

Legislative Yuan Could Overrule ECFA: Speaker
(Reuters, Jan. 16, 2010) A broad trade pact between Taiwan and China could be set back as legislators review and possibly overrule it, Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng said.

Inking ECFA Still Goal of Next Talks: Shih Yen-shiang
(Taipei Times, Jan. 15, 2010) The government will continue working toward the goal of signing a trade pact with China during the next round of high-level cross-strait talks to be held in the first half of this year in China, Minister of Economic Affairs Shih Yen-shiang said.

90% CEO of Top 1,000 Firms Back ECFA
(China Post, Jan. 14, 2010) Some 90 percent of the CEOs of Taiwan's top 1,000 enterprises polled expressed their support for the inking of the proposed Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement across the Taiwan Strait, according to a survey conducted by the CommonWealth Magazine.

Trade Talks with China to Begin Jan. 20
(Bloomberg, Jan. 9, 2010) Taiwan plans to begin formal talks with China on lowering import tariffs on Jan. 20, Premier Wu Den-yih said.

Gov’t Urged to Sign ECFA and FTA Simultaneously
(China Post, Jan. 3, 2010) Taiwan should clearly relay to mainland China its intention of simultaneously signing the ECFA with China and FTA with ASEAN if it is to take advantage of the ECFA to push for the inking of FTA with the ASEAN, a consultant for Taiwanese investment in mainland China said.

Investment Protection, Security on Cross-Strait Agenda after ECFA
(CNA, Dec. 28, 2009) Negotiations between Taiwan and China will move on to the issues of investment protection and security after the signing of a proposed ECFA, a MOFA official said.

Taiwan Has Hard Role in TPP Process: Scholars
(CNA, Dec. 24, 2009) American scholars said in a video conference that while the United States needs trade policy to engage Asia and the expansion of the Trans-Pacific Strategic Economic Partnership (TPP) is seen as an opportunity, Taiwan still has difficulty playing a role.

ECFA Now Top Priority
(China Post, Dec. 23, 2009) Top negotiators from both sides stressed the urgency of beginning talks on a proposed Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA).

President Ma Vows to Strive for FTAs after Inking ECFA
(China Post, Dec. 21, 2009) President Ma Ying-jeou pledged the government will continue its efforts to reach FTAs with other countries after securing an ECFA with China.

DPP Wants Cross-Strait WTO Economic Pact
(China Post, Dec. 20, 2009) Any bilateral economic and trade agreement between Taiwan and China should be signed under the framework of theWTO, Chairwoman Tsai Ing-wen of the opposition DPP said.

Ma Hopes ECFA Will Help Ties with ASEAN
(China Post, Dec. 17, 2009) President Ma Ying-jeou said Taiwan hopes the economic pact it is seeking to sign with China will help promote the island's ties with members of the ASEAN.

Ma Offers to Debate ECFA with Tsai
(CNA, Dec. 13, 2009) President Ma Ying-jeou has raised the possibility of holding a debate with opposition Democratic Progressive Party Chairwoman Tsai Ing-wen on the proposed cross-Taiwan Strait Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement.

China to Weigh Local Voices for ECFA
(China Post, Dec. 10, 2009) Mainland China will take into consideration Taiwan's real situations, including different people's voices, when conducting bilateral negotiations on the contents of the proposed ECFA, according to Jiang Zhengwei, China's Vice Minister of Commerce.

ECFA Discussions to Begin Early Next Year
(China Post, Dec. 9, 2009) Premier Wu Den-yih said yesterday Taiwan must negotiate the proposed Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA) with China in order to avoid marginalization of local industries in the Asia-Pacific region.

ECFA to Continue Despite Poll Outcome
(Taipei Times, Dec. 8, 2009) The president said he would forge ahead with the ECFA, but promised to keep the legislature informed and make the negotiations transparent.

MOEA Vice Minister Francis Liang Extols Benefits of a Signed ECFA (China Post, Dec. 1, 2009) Liang said that an Economic Framework Agreement with China would help offset the impact of global and regional trade agreements. However, Taiwan's future prosperity also requires an overhaul of infrastructure and a greater emphasis on value-added industries.

Six in 10 Taiwanese Oppose China Trade Pact: Survey
(AFP, Nov. 28, 2009) Six out of 10 Taiwanese are against a major trade agreement with China that is being pushed aggressively by the island's government, a survey by National Taiwan University showed.

Planned ECFA Needs Legislative Review: Wang
(Taipei Times, Nov. 28, 2009) Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng called on the Executive Yuan to submit its planned cross-strait economic cooperation framework agreement (ECFA) to legislative review.

ECFA Will Reduce Chance of War: Ma
(Taipei Times, Nov. 20, 2009) The president said that his administration was not especially friendly with China, but ‘we still need to do business with them.’

Chiang-Chen Meeting to Herald Start of ECFA Talks
(China Post, Nov. 18, 2009) The pace for the negotiations on an ECFA across the Taiwan Strait will accelerate after the two sides formally inked the MOU on cooperation in financial supervision and two-way investments.

ECFA May Be Inked in 2010: ARATS Official
(China Post, Nov. 17, 2009) Wang Zaixi, vice president of the ARATS, said that the cross-strait ECFA would be inked in 2010, and that mainland China is quite glad to see the signing of the reciprocal pact.

ECFA Agenda Is Set on APEC Sidelines
(CNA, Nov. 16, 2009) Taiwan's Minister of Economic Affairs Shih Yen-hsiang met his Chinese counterpart behind closed doors in Singapore to work out an agenda for bilateral talks on a proposed bilateral ECFA.

Hu Promises ECFA Talks
(China Post, Nov. 15, 2009) Chinese President Hu Jintao promised to Lien Chan, Taiwan's representative at the 2009 APEC summit meeting in Singapore, that talks on a proposed ECFA across the Taiwan Strait will start by the end of the year, according to informed sources.

ECFA Inking at 5th Ralks ‘Reasonable’: Premier Wu
(CNA, Nov. 13, 2009) Premier Wu Den-yih said that it is “reasonable” that the two sides of the Taiwan Strait can expect to sign an ECFA in the fifth round of talks between the top cross-strait negotiators on each side.

Lien to Push ECFA
(CNA, Nov. 10, 2009) The nation's representative to an Asia-Pacific informal leadership meeting said yesterday he will help push for the two sides of the Taiwan Strait to sign a bilateral partial free trade agreement as early as possible.

Top Trade Official Arrives in Beijing
(CNA, Nov. 5, 2009) Bureau of Foreign Trade Director-General Huang Chih-peng arrived in Beijing on a low-profile visit during which he is expected to hold informal talks with Chinese officials on the signing of a cross-Taiwan Strait ECFA.

Taiwan, China to Begin Trade Pact Talks in December
(Bloomberg, Nov. 3, 2009) Taiwan and China will begin talks on a trade agreement in December as the island seeks to revive its economy and the government in Beijing aims for extra leverage over its counterpart in Taipei.

Taiwan-China Talks off Again
(AFP, Nov. 2, 2009) Taiwan has called off a delegation that was to have left on Monday morning for informal trade talks in China.

Taiwan, China to Exchange ‘Early Harvest’ Lists for Pact
(CNA, Oct. 27, 2009) Taiwan and China will soon take a critical step forward toward their goal of signing an economic cooperation framework agreement (ECFA), as they will exchange “early harvest” lists next week, officials said.

China Ready for ECFA
(China Post, Oct. 26, 2009) Wang Yi of the TAO said that both sides of the Taiwan Straits can kick off official talks on the signing of the ECFA during the fourth round of meetings between China's ARATS and Taiwan's SEF slated for December in Taichung. Taiwan Will Proceed ‘Gradually’ with Talks

Inking ECFA Not a Zero-sum Game: BOFT
(China Post, Oct. 23, 2009) The signing of the proposed ECFA across the Taiwan Strait is not a zero-sum game between Taiwan and mainland China, but a move beneficial to both sides, Director General of the BOFT said.

CLA Unveils Report on ECFA Pros and Cons
(China Post, Oct. 22, 2009) Signing the ECFA with China will create 105,000 to 125,000 job opportunities for people in Taiwan, but if the pact is not inked, then Taiwan may stand to lose some 47,000 job opportunities, according to a study report released by the Council of Labor Affairs.

Taiwan Delays Informal China Trade Talks
(AFP, Oct. 19, 2009) Informal trade talks between Taiwan and China scheduled for this week have been delayed, as Taipei officials will be busy answering budget questions in parliament, the government said.

MOEA Stands Firm on Farm, Labor Trade for ECFA Pact
(China Post, Oct. 16, 2009) The MOEA will strongly oppose the signing of an ECFA with China if the deal widens the opening of Taiwan market to more Chinese agricultural products or allows the entry of laborers from the other side of the Taiwan Strait.

Taiwan, China to Hold Informal Trade Talks: Report
(AFP, Oct. 12, 2009) Taiwan and China will hold informal talks next week in preparation of a much-anticipated trade pact, local media reported.

ECFA May Act As Catalyst: Lai
(Taipei Times, Oct. 7, 2009) The MAC chairwoman said that as the nation has an export-driven economy, the signing of an ECFA with China may trigger a series of FTAs with Taiwan.

Cross-Strait Financial MOU Likely in November
(CNA, Oct. 1, 2009) Taiwan and China are expected to sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on cross-Taiwan Strait cooperation on financial supervision in November.

Premier Wu Rules Out a Referendum on ECFA
(China Post, Sep. 30, 2009) Premier Wu Den-yih ruled out a referendum on an economic cooperation framework agreement between Taiwan and China.

TSU Chief Says ECFA will Cause ‘Crisis’
(Taipei Times, Sep. 25, 2009) Echoing former Taiwan High Speed Rail Corp chairwoman Nita Ing’s remark that migration of industries was what “killed” the high-speed rail business, TSU Chairman Huang Kun-huei said the government’s plan to sign an ECFA with China would just make the situation worse.

Ma Rushing ECFA: Trade Lobby
(Taipei Times, Sep. 24, 2009) Rupert Hammond-Chambers said a poor result in year-end elections would cost the president significant support for policies such as the ECFA.

Committee Rejects Request for Referendum on ECFA
(Taipei Times, Aug. 28, 2009) The Executive Yuan's Referendum Review Committee yesterday turned down a petition submitted by the DPP asking for a referendum on the ECFA that the government plans to sign with China.

Trade Pact to Be Made by Year-End: China
(CNA, Aug. 21, 2009) A visiting Chinese commerce official said he is confident that negotiations on an economic cooperation framework agreement between Taiwan and China will be concluded by the end of this year.

Chinese Expert on Taiwan Contradicts Ma’s ECFA Claims
(Taipei Times, Aug. 14, 2009) The essence of cross-strait economic integration is to advance the undertaking of peaceful unification with China, a Chinese expert on Taiwan affairs said at a cross-strait forum.

Lu Makes Case for FTAs with Regional Countries
(Taipei Times, Aug. 10, 2009) Former vice president Annette Lu urged the administration to pressure Beijing to help Taiwan sign free-trade agreements with its non-allied countries.

Legislature Suggests Listing IPR Protection in Pact
(CNA, Aug. 4, 2009) The legislature suggested listing intellectual property rights protection in the government’s planned Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement with China, saying that IPR disputes involving Taiwanese businesses operating in China were common.

Ministry Distorted ECFA Study: DPP
(Taipei Times, Jul. 31, 2009) The DPP accused the Ministry of Economic Affairs of tampering with an impact assessment report on signing an ECFA with China, saying the ministry had deflated potential job losses that could follow the trade deal's implementation.

ECFA with China May Push Up Taiwan’s GDP Growth by 1.7 Percentage Points: MOEA (China Post, Jul. 29, 2009) If Taiwan signs an ECFA with China, it would add 1.7 percentage points to the island's GDP growth rate, the Ministry of Economic Affairs announced at a press conference.

Taiwan Leader Calls for China Trade Pact But No Rush to Meet Hu
(AFP, Jul. 29, 2009) Taiwan's President Ma Ying-jeou called for a trade pact with China but said he was not likely to meet his Chinese counterpart soon despite warming ties between the former bitter rivals.

DPP’s ECFA Referendum Initiative Passes First Hurdle
(CNA, Jul. 26, 2009) An opposition Democratic Progressive Party-backed referendum initiative on the proposed economic cooperation framework agreement (ECFA) with China has passed the first hurdle.

Taiwan, China to Talk Trade in October: Report
(AFP, Jul. 25, 2009) Taiwan and China will begin negotiations on a comprehensive trade pact in October, in a further step towards closer economic ties between the two neighbours, a report said.

Taiwan, China Tight-Lipped on Meeting
(CNA, Jul. 23, 2009) The economic ministers of Taiwan and China were tight-lipped yesterday after meeting on the sidelines of the APEC forum in Singapore.

Economics Minister to Meet Chinese Counterpart in Singapore
(CNA, Jul. 20, 2009) Minister of Economic Affairs Yiin Chii-ming headed for Singapore to attend a trade ministers meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum.

Taiwan, China Aim to Sign FTA-Like Deal in 2010
(Reuters, Jul. 13, 2009) Taiwan and China could sign a free-trade style agreement later than expected, a top Taiwanese official for cross-strait affairs said.

ECFA with China Remains a Priority: President Ma
(CNA, Jul. 7, 2009) President Ma Ying-jeou said forging an economic cooperation framework agreement with China remains a priority for his administration's negotiations with China.

Cross-Strait Trade Pact to be Signed Late This Year or in 2010
(CNA, Jul. 5, 2009) Taiwan and China are likely to sign an economic cooperation framework agreement late this year or early next year, according to Minister of Economic Affairs Yiin Chii-ming.

ECFA Crucial to Taiwan’s Competitiveness: SEF Chairman
(CNA, Jun. 28, 2009) The signing of an economic cooperation framework agreement with China is crucial to Taiwan's ability to compete with other countries on an equal basis, SEF Chairman P.K. Chiang said.

Cross-Strait Talks on ECFA May Start in October: Yiin
(China Post, Jun. 25, 2009) Economic Minister Yiin Chii-ming said that both sides of the Taiwan Straits may kick off negotiations on the signing of the proposed Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement in October at the earliest.

DPP Begins Bid to Collect Signatures for Referendum
(Taipei Times, Jun. 15, 2009) The Democratic Progressive Party commenced its bid to collect 100,000 signatures in the first stage of a plan to call a referendum on the government’s planned economic cooperation framework agreement with China.

DPP to Initiate Referendum on ECFA by August
(China Post, Jun. 1, 2009) Despite President Ma Ying-jeou's objection, the opposition Democratic Progressive Party is all set to initiate a referendum on an economic cooperation framework agreement between Taiwan and China.

Beijing Ready to Negotiate ECFA Before Year’s End
(China Post, May 27, 2009) China is ready to negotiate, and possibly conclude, an economic cooperation framework agreement (ECFA) with Taiwan before the end of this year, according to KMT chairman Wu Poh-hsiung.

ECFA Negotiations May Begin in October: Yin
(China Post, May 26, 2009) Negotiations on a cross-strait economic cooperation framework agreement may begin in October at the earliest, said Economics Minister Yiin Chii-ming.

Taiwan Wants to Sign Trade Pact with China As Soon As Possible
(DPA, May 24, 2009) Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou urged China to sign a trade pact with Taiwan as soon as possible, despite objection from Taiwan’s opposition party DPP.

No Referendum Is Needed on ECFA Proposal: Ma
(Taipei Times, May 20, 2009) President Ma Ying-jeou said the economic pact his administration plans to sign with Beijing does not require a referendum because it steers clear of politics and concerns only economic issues.

Beijing Says It Is Prepared to Conclude ECFA with Taipei
(China Post, May 18, 2009) Speaking at the meeting of the Straits Forum on China-Taiwan Relations, Wang Yi said Beijing is now ready to negotiate and conclude an economic cooperation framework agreement with Taipei.

Lee Teng-hui Criticizes Ma’s ECFA Plans
(China Post, May 17, 2009) Former President Lee Teng-hui said the Ma administration is making its most serious mistake by trying to sign an economic cooperation framework agreement with China.

Tsai Warns of Strategic Collapse
(Taipei Times, May 8, 2009) Democratic Progressive Party Chairperson Tsai Ing-wen told a Washington audience that there remains “a deep sense of anxiety and uncertainty within Taiwan” about the way President Ma Ying-jeou has engaged in rapid rapprochement with China.

Ma Wants ECFA in Cross-Strait Talks
(Taipei Times, Apr. 25, 2009) President Ma Ying-jeou instructed the head of the Straits Exchange Foundation to discuss the government's proposed economic cooperation framework agreement with China during cross-strait negotiations.

Details Finalized for Cross-Strait Talks
(Taipei Times, Apr. 19, 2009) The third round of cross-strait talks between the Straits Exchange Foundation and China’s Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Strait will be held from April 25 to April 29 in Nanjing, China, a preparatory meeting for the talks determined.

ECFA with China to Help U.S. FTA: Yuan
(China Post, Apr. 16, 2009) Taiwan's representative to Washington Jason Yuan said that if Taiwan signs an Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement with China, it will effectively help push the signing of an Free Trade Agreement between Taipei and Washington.

Tsai Pans Ma Over ECFA
(Taipei Times, Apr. 12, 2009) Democratic Progressive Party Chairperson Tsai Ing-wen said President Ma Ying-jeou would hear “the people’s angry shouts” on May 17 if he insists on signing an economic cooperation framework agreement with China.

DPP Scholars, Officials Clash on ECFA Plan
(China Post, Apr. 12, 2009) Economic Minister Yiin Chii-ming and former chairman Chen Po-chih of the Council for Economic Planning and Development engaged in heated debates over issues related to a proposed ECFA between Taiwan and China.

‘Opt Out’ Clause Mulled for ECFA: MOEA Chief
(Taipei Times, Mar. 30, 2009) The government has been in contact with China on the economic cooperation framework agreement and is considering the addition of an “opt out” clause in the trade pact, Minister of Economic Affairs Yiin Chii-ming said.

ECFA Will Divide Society: Tsai
(Taipei Times, Mar. 25, 2009) Tsai said the DPP is opposed to any treaty signed under the “one China” framework and the party opposes any economic treaty with China that would lead to a serious loss of jobs in Taiwan.

Ma Willing to Listen, But Determined That ECFA Will be Signed
(Taipei Times, Mar. 21, 2009) President Ma Ying-jeou reiterated the government’s determination to sign an economic cooperation framework agreement (ECFA) with China.

Signing ECFA with No. 1 Export Market Vital to Taiwan Trade: Ma
(China Post, Mar. 8, 2009) President Ma Ying-jeou stressed that as mainland China is Taiwan's largest export market, signing an ECFA with China can help to normalize cross-strait economic and trade ties.

Taiwan Should Bundle Trade Pact Talks: Scholars
(CNA, Mar. 5, 2009) Scholars suggested that the proposed economic cooperation framework agreement (ECFA) with China should be promoted in tandem with economic talks with other countries.

Premier Denies ‘Political’ Bias in ECFA Plan
(Taipei Times, Mar. 4, 2009) Premier Liu Chao-shiuan promised not to sign an “economic cooperation framework agreement” (ECFA) with China under a “political” framework amid opposition lawmakers’ concerns that the nation would not have equal footing with China.

China: Economic Zone Proposed with Taiwan
(New York Times, Mar. 3, 2009) The Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, an advisory body in Beijing, will receive a proposal to set up a “cross-straits economic zone” with Taiwan.

Taiwan Renames Trade Pact
(Strait Times, Mar. 2, 2009) The four-letter acronym of a proposed trade pact with China has sparked such a storm in Taiwan that the government had to change its name.

CECA Is Non-political: Ma
(China Post, Feb. 28, 2009) President Ma Ying-jeou reiterated that the unification-independence issue has nothing to do with the economic pact that Taiwan is seeking to sign with China in order to boost the island's competitiveness.

Content of Pact Must Be OK’d by the Legislature: MAC Head
(CNA, Feb. 28, 2009) If Taiwan signs a Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement with China, it would not take effect unless the Legislature approves it, Taiwan's top China-policy planner reiterated.

No Timetable for Signing CECA with China: Premier
(CNA, Feb. 25, 2009) The government has not set a timetable for the signing of a Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement with China, because this will depend partly on the progress of negotiations between the two sides, Premier Liu Chao-shiuan said.

WTO Basis for CECA Talks: Yiin
(China Post, Feb. 23, 2009) Taipei officials tried to deny a comprehensive economic cooperation arrangement between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait isn't the first step toward Chinese unification.

CECA Won’t Be Signed at Meet: SEF Head
(China Post, Feb. 19, 2009) Taiwan and China will not sign a Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement during their planned third round of negotiations, Chiang Pin-kung, chairman of Taiwan's Straits Exchange Foundation, reiterated.

DPP Urges Consensus Before CECA Is Signed
(China Post, Feb. 15, 2009) Chairwoman Tsai Ing-wen of the opposition Democratic Progressive Party called for the government not to sign a Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) with China without the social consensus of the Taiwanese people.

Taiwan to Study Possible CECA with China
(CNA, Feb. 14, 2009) The Ministry of Economic Affairs promised yesterday to study the feasibility of signing a Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) with China, in response to a call by business and industrial groups for the government to hold talks with Beijing on that and other trade matters.

Gov’t Looking to Talk to China on CECA
(China Post, Feb. 11, 2009) The government will seek to start discussing negotiations with China about reaching the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement starting this year in a bid to help Taiwanese enterprises maintain and beef up export sales.

‘Economic First’ in Cross-Strait Policy: SEF
(CNA, Feb. 10, 2009) Taiwan has not changed its “economy first, politics later” stance in its cross-Taiwan Strait policy, Taiwan's Straits Exchange Foundation Chairman Chiang Pin-kung said in an interview carried in Singapore newspaper, Lianhe Zaobao.

Taiwan to Speed Up Talks with China on Trade Deal
(Reuters, Feb. 2, 2009) Taiwan plans to speed up talks with diplomatic rival China this year on a wide-reaching trade deal amid a worsening global economic crisis, the Commercial Times said.

Pros, Cons of a Cross-Strait ECFA By Lin Wuu-long
(Taipei Times, Dec. 27, 2009) The Ma administration’s push for an ECFA is pragmatic. However, it has not alleviated growing concerns over Taiwan’s increasing economic dependence on China or over Chinese efforts to use economic measures to unify with Taiwan under Beijing’s “one China” policy.

Over Protest, Taiwan Moves toward Free Trade with China By Jane Richards (Washington Post, Dec. 23, 2009) Taiwan and China signed a series of business accords, bringing them closer to economic integration amid vociferous protests here from critics who fear that the move will eventually lead to unification with the Chinese mainland.

Taiwan Expects China Pact to Improve Competitiveness By Tim Culpan and Chinmei Sung (Bloomberg, Dec. 15, 2009) Taiwan and China last month signed memoranda on financial- industry cooperation and next month will start negotiating an ECFA. The government will begin studying this month whether to ease restrictions on LCD investments.

Taiwan’s Economy: Recovery with Chinese Characteristics By Merritt T. Cooke (Brookings, November, 2009) ECFA reflects strategic recognition of the fact that traditional sectors of Taiwan’s economy stand to gain from the degree of integration with the world that the technology sector has long enjoyed.

ECFA Slim Boost to GDP, Tool for Unification: Experts By William Lowther (Taipei Times, Nov. 19, 2009) A new study by US economist Daniel Rosen forecasts that a proposed ECFA with China would increase Taiwan’s GDP by 4.5 percent over the next 10 years, but also cautioned that China’s motivation for signing the pact was solely concerned with unification.

Taiwan’s Economy Needs More Than Cooperation with China By Derek Scissors (WebMemo #2691, Heritage Foundation, Nov. 9, 2009) Cross-straits liberalization is valuable, but it is only one arrow in the quiver. More needs to be done to bolster Taiwan's economic future, and America can help.

ECFA Contingency Plan Imperative
(Editorial, Taipei Times, Aug. 2, 2009) A responsible government would introduce an emergency aid program for vulnerable segments before the ratification of any cross-strait trade pact.

A Rule of Thumb May Be a Better Guide on ECFA
(Editorial, China Post, Aug. 2, 2009) The ordinary people just need to know whether it is truly needed to prevent their homeland from being marginalized in an emerging free trade zone in Asia where the People's Republic of China dominates.

Why An ECFA Referendum Is Key By Tung Chen-yuan
(Taipei Times, Jun. 11, 2009) As the government pushes for cross-strait talks on an ECFA, greater confrontation between the ruling and opposition camps will emerge. A referendum resolves this issue at the lowest social cost. It would also strengthen the legitimacy of the ECFA policy.

WTO Needs to Know about ECFA By Cho Hui-wan
(Taipei Times, Jun. 1, 2009) An ECFA should be an FTA interim agreement and has to be reported to the WTO. If the government is not planning to do so, then the ECFA needs to include a clause stipulating that China is glad to see Taiwan, as a WTO member, signing FTAs with other members.

Cross-Strait Matrix: The Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement By Terry Cooke (China Brief, Jamestown Foundation, May 27, 2009) The ECFA appears to represent a recognition in both Taipei and Beijing that they need to work together to co-manage the impact of the global economic crisis.

TVBS Poll on ECFA and National Identity
(TVBS Public Opinion Pall Center, Mar. 13, 2009) A poll conducted by TVBS on Taiwanese people’s opinion on ECFA with China and national identity.

CECA Comes with Big Hidden Costs By Tsai Ing-Wen
(Taipei Times, Mar. 1, 2009) The signing of CECA would not only affect issues such as Taiwanese sovereignty and economic autonomy, but also affect the lives of ordinary Taiwanese. It is simplistic to argue that the DPP opposes the CECA merely on ideological grounds.

Exclusive Ma Ying-jeou Interview: Nothing to Fear from CECA with Beijing: Ma (Taipei Times, Feb. 20, 2009) The government’s cross-strait policies have prompted concerns over the potential impact on Taiwan’s sovereignty. In an interview, President Ma responded to his critics.