Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement
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Polls
Survey on Signed Cross-Strait
Economic Cooperation Agreement, People’s Views on Unification-Independence
Issue and President Ma Ying-jeou’s Approval Rating (GVSRC, Jul. 28, 2010) 47.1% of people were supportive of
ECFA; 51.2% preferred to maintain
status quo on the unification-independence issue; and 32.3% were content with
President Ma’s performance.
Survey: ECFA Televised
Debate between President Ma Ying-jeou and DPP Chairwoman Tsai Ing-wen (China Times,
Apr. 26, 2010) 47.5% of respondents
supported signing a cross-Strait ECFA while 30.4% not.
Survey: ECFA Televised
Debate between President Ma Ying-jeou and DPP Chairwoman Tsai Ing-wen (TVBS, Apr. 26, 2010)
After the
debate, 41%
of respondents
supported concluding an ECFA with China, rising from 38% before the
debate.
Survey: Televised ECFA
Debate between President Ma Ying-jeou and DPP Chairwoman Tsai Ing-wen (United Daily,
Apr. 26, 2010) 42% of
respondents thought President Ma performed better while 30% Chairwoman Tsai.
Survey: Possible Debate on
Concluding a Cross-Strait ECFA
(China
Times, Mar. 23, 2010) 42.6% of people support the signing of ECFA, while
67.1% agree that the government and the DPP should hold public debates on ECFA.
Survey on Signing of
Economic Cooperation Agreement with Other Countries, People’s Views on
Unification with China and Independence and President Ma Ying-jeou’s Approval
Rating (GVSRC, Mar. 23, 2010)
46.2 percent of people supported the authorities to sign ECFA with mainland
China; meanwhile, President Ma’s approval rating is 23.8% this month.
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.
Gov’t to Counter Trade Agreement
among China, Japan, S. Korea
(CNA,
Aug. 28, 2010) Taiwan should prioritize several industries in
follow-up talks with China
under the framework trade pact the two signed in late June to counter a
possible East Asian free trade zone, the Bureau of Foreign Trade said.
China May Notify WTO of
Taiwan Trade Agreement: Official
(CNA,
Aug. 27, 2010) During recent talks with Taiwan, China did not rule out the
possibility of notifying the World Trade Organization of a recent trade pact
with Taiwan, an official familiar with the matter said.
ARATS Deputy Head Makes 1st
Taiwan Visit Since Signing of ECFA
(CNA,
Aug. 24, 2010) The deputy chief of China's
quasi-official Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Strait is
currently on a visit in Taiwan
to assess the response on the ground to a recently signed cross-strait pact,
sources said.
Taiwan-China Trade Deal
Passed by Taipei Legislators
(BBC,
Aug. 18, 2010) Taiwan's
parliament has approved a wide-ranging trade pact with China, despite a boycott by the
pro-independence opposition.
ECFA Review Consensus Reached
(Taipei
Times, Aug. 17, 2010) The DPP says the consensus, which has been put in
writing, means lawmakers will take an ‘individual review, individual vote and
package vote approach.’
Taiwan Government Faces
Challenges after ECFA: Scholars
(CNA,
Aug. 14, 2010) The signing of a historic trade pact between Taiwan and China was just the start of a
wide range of economic and political tasks for the Taiwanese government to
overcome and cautiously review, scholars said.
Taiwan, China Agrees on
Economic Commission
(CNA,
Aug. 14, 2010) Taiwan and China
have agreed that an economic cooperation commission to be established under a
recently signed trade pact will be headed by vice ministerial-level officials
from each side, government sources said.
Taiwan Considers Trade Deals
with Vietnam, Indonesia
(Taipei Times, Aug. 8, 2010) Taiwan
is eyeing Vietnam and Indonesia as potential free-trade agreement
partners after announcing last week that it had agreed with Singapore to explore the
feasibility of such a deal.
Presidential Office Happy
with China’s response to Proposed Singapore Pact (Taipei Times,
Aug. 7, 2010) The Presidential Office on Thursday night issued a statement
lauding China for not attempting
to stop the country’s bid to pursue an economic agreement with Singapore.
Taiwan, Singapore to Pursue
Trade Pact
(Reuters, Aug. 5, 2010) Taiwan and Singapore
will pursue a free trade-style deal, the two sides said, a key to Taipei's long-term growth strategy and following a trade
pact with political foe China.
Taiwan Diplomat Calls for
FTAs with Europe
(CNA, Aug. 4, 2010) Taiwan's
top envoy to the European Union and Belgium
called for a free trade agreement between Taiwan
and the EU, saying that the ground has already been laid with the recent
signing of a trade pact with China.
FTA with Taiwan Unnecessary:
Thai Rep Office
(CNA, Aug. 1, 2010) Goods imported from Thailand to Taiwan already enjoy a favorable
tariff treatment, hence a free trade agreement or a similar mechanism is not
necessary to stimulate bilateral trade, the Thai representative office said
recently.
China Wouldn’t Scuttle Trade
Pacts: Academic
(Taipei Times, Jul. 29, 2010) Charles Freeman, an
academic at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, said that authorities at “the highest
levels within China” had
assured him that Taiwan
would be free to enter into whatever free-trade agreements it wanted.
DPP to Look at ECFA from New
Angle, but Keep Fighting
(China Post, Jul. 28, 2010) Chairwoman Tsai Ing-wen of DPP said she is now looking at the trade pact
reached between Taiwan and
China
from a different perspective. But she denied that she has given up a fight
against the agreement.
Taiwan May Try to Reach Free
Trade Accord with Singapore, Negotiator Says (Bloomberg, Jul. 22, 2010) Taiwan may seek a free-trade accord
with Singapore following its first such deal with China, the island’s top
negotiator with China Chiang Pin-kung said.
DPP Walks out of ECFA Review
(Taipei Times,
Jul. 10, 2010) The DPP caucus withdrew from the provisional legislative session
called to review the Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement with Beijing after the
legislature ruled to allow the agreement to skip a committee review.
ECFA Sent for Second Reading
(China Post, Jul. 9, 2010) The Legislative Yuan
decided to skip committee review and submit the landmark China trade accord
for second reading in the plenary session amid scuffles between rival
lawmakers that has seen several injured.
US Rules out Taiwan Free
Trade Deal
(AFP, Jul. 7, 2010) The United States has ruled
out a free trade agreement with Taiwan
amid a dispute over beef imports, days after the island signed a sweeping
accord with longtime adversary China.
Wang Offers ECFA-Stalemate Compromise
(CNA, Jul. 7, 2010) Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng suggested a compromise to try to resolve an impasse
over the method to be used for legislative screening of a recently concluded
cross-Taiwan Strait trade pact.
Japanese Press Calls for New
Approach toward Taiwan, China
(CNA, Jul. 5, 2010) Japan
should consider reopening its stalled trade pact negotiations with both Taiwan and China
now Taipei and Beijing have sealed their economic
cooperation framework agreement, a Japanese newspaper said.
Academic Says That ECFA
Gives the Edge to Beijing
(Taipei Times,
Jul. 5, 2010) An industrial economics expert criticized government comments
that the cross-strait ECFA would benefit the grassroots, saying that Taiwan’s
“early harvest” list under the ECFA was problematic.
Lawmakers Cannot Revise
ECFA: Ma
(China Post, Jul. 3, 2010) Ma said lawmakers can
either endorse or reject the economic cooperation framework agreement (ECFA),
but cannot revise it.
Taiwan President Defends
China Trade Agreement
(AP, Jul. 1, 2010) Taiwan's
president defended his landmark trade deal with China
against claims that it would lead to a Beijing
takeover, as the opposition girded for elections that could determine the
fate of the ambitious China
opening.
AIT Welcomes ECFA Signing,
Denies Arms Sales Notification Suspensions (CNA, Jun. 30, 2010) The United States welcomes the signing of a
historical cross-Taiwan Strait trade agreement and its policy on arm sales to
Taiwan remains unchanged, the top U.S. diplomat in Taiwan said.
Taiwan Targets Asian
Countries for FTAs: Report
(AFP, Jun. 30, 2010) Taiwan is now looking to
forge several free trade agreements in Asia after signing a sweeping and
historic pact with China, a report said.
Taiwan and China Sign
Landmark Trade Agreement
(BBC, Jun. 29, 2010) China
and Taiwan
have signed a historic trade pact, seen as the most significant agreement since
civil war split the two governments 60 years ago.
No Need for Taiwan FTA,
Philippine Minister Says
(Taipei Times, Jun. 28, 2010) Recent comments by
the Philippines’ trade and industry secretary cast doubt on the feasibility
of Taiwan being able to sign FTA with other economies in the region after it
signs an ECFA with China.
Taiwan Trade Pact with China
Fires Up Protesters
(LA Times, Jun. 27, 2010) Tens of thousands of
Taiwanese marched on the streets of Taipei to
protest a trade agreement with China that is being called the
most important deal between the two sides since they split after a civil war
ended in 1949.
Ma to Address ECFA Era Strategy
(CNA, Jun. 27, 2010) President Ma Ying-jeou described a soon-to-be-signed cross-Taiwan Strait
ECFA as a major step in the transformation of Taiwan's economy and said he will
address the nation's global economic strategy in the ECFA era on July 1.
Anti-ECFA Demonstrations to
Take Place in Taipei City
(China
Post, Jun. 26, 2010) Thousands of opposition leaders and supporters take to
the streets today in Taipei to protest against
the upcoming signing of an economic pact with China.
Early Harvest Lists
Finalized at ECFA Meet
(China Post, Jun. 25, 2010) As many as 539
Taiwanese products and services are placed on the “early harvest list” to
enjoy tariff cuts or market access treatment under the cross-strait ECFA,
more than double the corresponding figure of 267 Chinese products and
services.
Taiwan and China to Sign
Landmark Trade Deal on June 29
(Reuters, Jun. 24, 2010) The economic cooperation
framework agreement (ECFA) would see tariffs cut on some 540 Taiwanese
products bound for China and about 270 Chinese products exported to Taiwan,
said sources and media reports.
Taipei, Beijing to Hold ECFA
Preparatory Meeting
(Taipei Times, Jun. 23, 2010) Taipei and Beijing
will hold a preparatory meeting in Taipei tomorrow to iron out final
differences on an economic cooperation framework agreement (ECFA) before top
negotiators from both sides meet next week to sign the deal.
Taiwan Should Alter China
Strategy: Japanese Expert
(CNA, Jun. 22, 2010) Taiwan needs to focus on
logistics and other professional services in China as the country will soon
lose its advantage in capitalizing on cheap Chinese labor due to wage hikes
and a stronger Chinese yuan, a visiting Japanese
corporate strategist said.
Taiwan to Gain in ECFA
(China Post, Jun. 16, 2010) The export value of the
500 Taiwan products eligible for tariff exemptions or reductions amounts to
about US$12 billion a year, four times the sales of the 250 Chinese products
that will enjoy similar preferential tariff treatment.
Taiwan Stocks, Dollar Rise
on China Trade Agreement; Bonds Fall
(Bloomberg, Jun. 14, 2010) Taiwan’s stocks rose to
a three-week high and the dollar gained as the island and China agreed to
boost trade worth about $110 billion a year.
ECFA with China Ready for Signing
(China Post, Jun. 14, 2010) Trade officials from Taiwan and China concluded the latest round
of talks on proposed ECFA with consensus reached on the text of the major
accord and the five sets of attached documents.
Taiwan, China Hold Trade
Talks Amid Deal Speculation
(Bloomberg, Jun. 13, 2010) China and Taiwan held
a third round of talks today to strengthen economic and trade ties, with the
mainland’s lead negotiator saying agreement may be imminent on goods,
services and industries chosen for initial tariff cuts.
Taiwan, China in Stalemate
Over ECFA Terms: Premier
(AFP, Jun. 13, 2010) Taiwan
and China
were “stuck” in negotiations on their trade pact, the island's premier said,
in the latest sign that the two sides may miss this month's deadline for
concluding the agreement.
Lee Teng-hui Calls on Public
to Oppose ECFA
(Taipei
Times, Jun. 13, 2010) Former president Lee Teng-hui
urged the public to join the campaigns opposing an economic cooperation
framework agreement with China and calling for abolishing the Referendum
Review Committee.
Taiwan Official: To Hold
Trade Talks with China in Beijing June 13-14 (Dow Jones, Jun. 10, 2010) Officials from Taiwan and China plan
to meet in Beijing on June 13-14 for the third round of talks on which
sectors will be the first to enjoy favorable tax terms under a trade pact to
be signed later this year.
Taiwan Entitled to Sign
Official Pacts with Other Countries: Ma
(CNA, Jun. 2, 2010) In an interview with the BBC, Ma again urged Beijing "not to stand in Taiwan's way of clinching FTAs with foreign countries." BBC Chinese Interviewed
President Ma
Taiwan Foreign FTAs Opposed
(Reuters, Jun. 2, 2010) Taiwan protested after
China said it will object to foreign countries signing free trade agreements
with the island, a blow to what Taipei officials see as a key driver to its
economy.
Early-harvest List Is Key to
ECFA: Sources
(China Post, Jun. 1, 2010) Whether the cross-strait
Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement can be smoothly inked or not will
hinge mainly on whether both sides can reach a consensus on the early-harvest
list, according to informed sources.
ECFA Could Help with Trade
Deals: Ex-AIT Chair
(CNA, May 31, 2010) A proposed trade deal between
Taiwan and China could help Taiwan become part of the Asian
economic integration and avoid marginalization in the region, Richard C. Bush
said.
ECFA Signing Will Not Be
Rushed, Vice Minister Says
(CNA, May 28, 2010) The government will not rush
to sign an economic cooperation framework agreement with China although it is still aiming
to conclude the pact by the end of June, Vice Minister of Economic Affairs
Lin Sheng-chung said.
Opposition Launches
Anti-ECFA Sit-in
(CNA, May 21, 2010) Opposition groups staged a
sit-in in Taipei against the government's plan
to sign an economic cooperation framework agreement (ECFA) with China.
Short-term Benefits Erode
Vitality: Tsai
(China Post, May 9, 2010) Chairwoman Tsai Ing-wen of the opposition DPP criticized that what the
Kuomintang-ruled government is doing is aimed at pursuing short-term
political benefits, gradually undermining the vitality of the nation's
cornerstone.
ECFA Will Boost Taiwan’s Economic
Growth: Kumar
(CNA, May 7, 2010) A proposed cross-Taiwan Strait
economic cooperation framework agreement (ECFA) will help Taiwan achieve
sustained economic growth once it is signed, an economist with the United
Nations said.
ECFA Would Be Scrapped If
Vetoed in Referendum: Minister
(CNA, May 6, 2010) The government would seek to
terminate the future economic cooperation framework agreement (ECFA) with China
if the deal were vetoed by the people in a referendum, Minister of Economic
Affairs Shih Yen-shiang said.
Economist in Favor of ECFA, with
Conditions
(CNA, May 2, 2010) Chen Tain-jy,
a former chairman of the Council for Economic Planning and Development,
described the signing of the economic cooperation framework agreement (ECFA)
as Taiwan's
first step in reaching out to the world.
Ma Sees ECFA as Tool for
Peace in Strait
(Taipei Times, Apr. 29, 2010) President Ma Ying-jeou said an economic cooperation framework agreement his
administration intends to sign with Beijing
would bring “deeper, greater and longer” peace in the Taiwan
Strait.
President to Move Fast on
New Trade Deals
(Reuters, Apr. 28, 2010) President Ma Ying-jeou said the island will move quickly to start talks on
free trade agreements with other countries as he seeks to avoid what he sees
as a “fatal” isolation for the US$390 billion economy.
Taiwan President and
Opposition Debate China Deal
(Bloomberg, Apr. 26, 2010) Taiwan's president said he will guard Taiwan's sovereignty when signing a major China
trade deal to bolster the island's economy, while the opposition charged the
pact will be harmful politically and economically.
Taiwan Dollar Gains, Bonds
Decline, on Support for China Pact
(Bloomberg, Apr. 26, 2010) Public support for a
planned Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement with the mainland increased
seven percentage points to 48 percent after Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou held a televised debate on the pact with the
opposition leader.
China Trade Pact Will Lead
to More FTAs: Minister
(AFP, Apr. 19, 2010) Taiwan's
economic minister has said that signing a trade pact with Beijing will prompt other countries to sign
free trade agreements with the island, according to a report.
Next ECFA Talks to Produce
Early Harvest List: Official
(Taipei
Times, Apr. 19, 2010) The third round of talks between Taiwan and China later
this month on a proposed economic cooperation framework agreement is expected
to produce a clear draft of an “early harvest” list of products and services
for tariff concessions, a finance official said.
Landmark China Trade Deal
Possible in June: Ma
(AFP, Apr. 16, 2010) President Ma Ying-jeou said Taiwan
could sign an historic trade deal with China as early as June and that
it would bring major benefits to the whole Asian region.
China Calls for Earlier ECFA
at Boao
(CNA, Apr. 12, 2010) Delegates from Taiwan and
China at the 2010 Boao Forum for Asia in China's
Hainan province have pushed for an earlier signing of a proposed cross-strait
economic cooperation framework agreement.
Xi Calls for Smooth ECFA Negotiation
(Xinhua, Apr. 10, 2010) Chinese Vice President Xi
Jinping said that the mainland is willing to see
the ongoing negotiations of the Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement with
Taiwan
"smoothly proceed without disturbance so as to achieve results and
produce economic benefit soon."
Porter, Harvard Economist,
Lends Support to ECFA
(Taipei Times, Apr.
10, 2010) Harvard Business School
professor Michael Porter said in Taipei that
he supports a proposed trade pact between Taiwan
and China, but he also
urged Taiwan
to work on its weaknesses to attract foreign investment.
DPP Renews Call for ECFA Referendum
(CNA, Apr. 10, 2010) Opposition Democratic
Progressive Party Chairwoman Tsai Ing-wen renewed
her party's call for a referendum to settle the differences over a proposed
economic cooperation framework agreement (ECFA) with China.
Ma, Tsai Debate Scheduled
for April 25
(Taipei
Times, Apr. 8, 2010) The Presidential Office and the Democratic Progressive
Party will hold a debate on the government’s proposed economic cooperation
framework agreement with China in a live TV session on April 25.
First ECFA Debate to Be Held
Tomorrow
(Taipei
Times, Arp. 4, 2010) The TV debate, in which an ECFA negotiator will square
off against ex-DPP legislators, is a lead-up to a showdown between the president
and the DPP chairperson.
President, DPP Chairperson
to Hold Debate on ECFA
(Taipei Times, Apr. 2, 2010) A highly anticipated
debate between President Ma Ying-jeou and
Democratic Progressive Party Chairwoman Tsai Ing-wen is scheduled to take place before the end
of this month, representatives from both sides said.
China, Taiwan Move Closer to
Trade Pact by June
(Reuters, Apr. 1, 2010) China and Taiwan moved closer to signing a
landmark free trade-style deal by mid-year that would give a boost to $109
billion in annual trade between the once bitter political rivals.
ECFA Pact Taking Shape
(China Post, Apr. 1, 2010) Negotiators from Taipei and Beijing
have agreed to hold an extra session early this morning in order to hammer
out substantive results for the proposed ECFA which was described as taking
shape following a full-day discussion.
China’s Concessions to Taiwan
(Strait Times, Apr. 1, 2010) Among other things, Mr Wang Yi promised in an interview with Taiwan's Wang Daily, that Beijing
would neither ask the island to further ease its curbs on agricultural
imports from China
nor allow Chinese laborers into the island to work.
ECFA by June: Shih
(China Post, Mar. 31, 2010) Minister of Economic
Affairs Shih Yen-shiang expressed optimism at
formally signing a proposed economic cooperation framework agreement (ECFA)
between Taiwan and China
by June.
Second Round of ECFA Talks
to Open in Taipei March 31
(CNA, Mar. 29, 2010) A second round of formal
negotiations on a wide-reaching trade accord between the two sides of the
Taiwan Strait will open in Taipei March 31,
the Straits Exchange Foundation announced.
Taiwan Using China Trade
Deal to Sell Foreign FTAs
(Reuters, Mar. 27, 2010) Taiwan has leveraged its
goal of a landmark trade deal with China to open talks with Japan, the United
States and other powers on free trade deals expected to boost the
long-isolated island economy, officials said.
TSU Launches New Drive for
Referendum on ECFA
(Taipei Times,
Mar. 21, 2010) The Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU) yesterday launched a
signature drive for a referendum against the government’s proposed economic
cooperation framework agreement with China.
Ex-president Questions
Impact of ECFA on FTAs
(CNA, Mar. 14, 2010) Former President Lee Teng-hui questioned whether Taiwan
will be able to sign free trade agreements (FTAs)
with other countries after it signs a trade pact with China, as the government has
argued.
Premier Hopes to Sign ECFA
with Beijing Soon
(CNA, Mar. 7, 2010) Premier Wu Den-yih said that the two sides of the Taiwan
Strait hope to sign a trade pact in May or June, depending on
the progress of the negotiations.
ECFA Likely to Be Signed in
May or June: ARATS
(CNA, Mar. 5, 2010) A proposed economic
cooperation framework agreement (ECFA) between China
and Taiwan
is likely to be signed in May or June, Beijing-based Association for the
Relations Across the Taiwan Straits
President Chen Yunlin said.
Ex-MAC Official Urges Ma to
Rethink ECFA
(Taipei
Times, Mar. 5, 2010) Tung Chen-yuan said the
government’s strategy was unclear and it had failed to fully evaluate the
impact of an ECFA and communicate with the public.
Taiwan’s Stocks Index Most
in Six Months on Mainland Trade Talks (Bloomberg, Mar. 1, 2010) Taiwan
shares rose the most in six months on speculation China will agree on tax breaks
for companies from the island, boosting their profits.
Executive Yuan Group Upholds
Referendum Rejection
(Taipei Times,
Feb. 27, 2010) The Executive Yuan’s Committee of Appeal has upheld the
Referendum Review Committee’s denial of a request from the DPP to put the
government’s planned ECFA with China to a referendum.
Second Round of ECFA Talks
Expected to Take Place in March
(CNA, Feb. 22, 2010) Minister of Economic
Affairs, Shih Yen-shiang, said that the second
round of official negotiations on a proposed cross-strait ECFA will probably
take place in Taipei in early March.
Beijing Leader Promises Pact
Won’t Harm Farmers
(China Post, Feb. 14, 2010) Chinese President, Hu Jintao, has assured that the
economic cooperation framework agreement (ECFA) sought by Beijing and Taipei
will look after the interest of farmers in Taiwan, a report said.
ECFA Core Issue at Talks:
SEF Chairman
(Taipei Times, Feb. 9, 2010) “The core
negotiations this year will be on the ECFA, followed by intellectual property
rights and avoidance of dual taxation,” Chiang said.
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.
Trade Deal Casts Shadow on
Taiwan By Cindy Sui
(Asia Times, Aug. 5, 2010) The Economic
Cooperation Framework Agreement is set to have an impact across Taiwanese
society and politics well beyond increasing business between the former foes
facing each other across the Taiwan Strait.
U.S. Dislike for ECFA Is a
Myth By Dennis V. Hickey
(China
Post, Jul. 22, 2010) Stories about American opposition to the warming
relations between Taiwan
and the China
receive a lot of media attention. But even a cursory examination of this
issue reveals that these views do not reflect mainstream opinion in the U.S.
or official American policy.
US Analysts Urge Washington
to Pay Attention to ECFA By Ko Shu-ling (Taipei Times, Jul. 15, 2010) While the Economic Cooperation
Framework Agreement will have modest global economic effects, the
geo-economic implications are significant enough to demand strategic
attention from the US, two US international economists said in a recent
study. Deepening China-Taiwan Relations Through the
Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement
Analysts: China-Taiwan Trade
Deal Strengthens Ties, Challenges Remain By
William Ide (VoA, Jul. 12, 2010) China's
President Hu Jintao has
praised a new trade agreement with Taiwan, calling it an
"important achievement" in improving relations between the
long-time rivals. But as trade between the two sides grows, analysts
note that challenges remain.
Taiwan Faces Two Chinas By
Randy Schriver
(Washington Times, Jul. 9, 2010) Why have we not
seen even a modest, symbolic step on China's part, commensurate with
improvements in the economic and political spheres, to reduce the military
intimidation it imposes on the people of Taiwan?
Reglobalizing Taiwan By
Iana Dreyer and Razeen Sally
(Wall Street Journal, Jul. 7, 2010) Cross-Strait
links must be seen as complements, not substitutes, for domestic,
nondiscriminatory and unilateral pro-market reforms to improve the business
climate. That will be the foundation for Taiwan's reglobalization.
ECFA Underlines Shifting
Relations By Peter Enav
(AP, Jul. 4, 2010) Lavishly praised by Beijing,
bitterly debated in Taipei and calmly accepted in Washington, last week’s
landmark trade deal between Taiwan and China is underscoring shifting
relations between them and the US.
ECFA Not a Free Ride for
Taiwan By Tung Chen-yuan
(Taipei Times, Jul. 4, 2010) The ECFA is just
what it says — a framework agreement — not a free-trade agreement (FTA). The
real challenge for Taiwan
comes now that the ECFA has been signed.
China-Taiwan Trade Deal
(Editorial, Asahi Shimbun,
Jul. 2, 2010) China and Taiwan signed a landmark agreement on economic
cooperation that will likely create the first free trade zone in Northeast Asia and have a significant impact on
regional security.
China-Taiwan Deal to Reshape
Asia Trade
(Asahi Shimbun, Jul. 1,
2010) The China-Taiwan economic cooperation agreement could reshape the trade
environment in Asia, forcing Japan
to shift its strategy in trade talks while prompting companies to form new
ties.
China Pact Proving Hard to
Sell in Taiwan By Peter Harmsen
(AFP, Jun. 30, 2010) After reaching a sweeping
trade agreement, Taiwan and China face the challenge of persuading the
island's 23 million people that Beijing has no ulterior political motives,
analysts said.
China, Taiwan Sign Trade
Pact By Keith B. Richburg
(Washington
Post, Jun. 30, 2010) China
and Taiwan highlighted
their growing economic links Tuesday by signing a trade cooperation agreement
that could dramatically increase the flow of goods across the narrow Taiwan Strait.
Taiwan-China Trade
Agreement: A Game Changer By Sheridan Prasso (Fortune, Jun. 30, 2010) Taiwan
finally gets to join the dynamic ring of fiery growth that has typified East Asia for the past decade. The island signed a
trade agreement with China
that ends its economic isolation and increases the chances for lasting peace
in the Taiwan Strait.
China-Taiwan Trade Deal Has
a Lesson for Korea
(Editorial, Chosun Ilbo, Jun. 30, 2010) The message sent by ECFA is clear:
such achievements are possible only when both sides yield and exercise
restraint with their sights set on long-term goals for the benefit of all.
Trade Deal Brings Taiwan
Closer into China’s Economic Embrace By
Frederik Balfour
(Bloomberg, Jun. 27, 2010) Taiwan is expected to sign its first trade treaty
with China tomorrow, strengthening commercial ties with the fastest-growing
major economy and the island’s biggest trading partner and investment
destination.
Talk of the Day—Is ECFA
‘Vitamin’ or ‘Poison’ for Taiwan?
(CNA, Jun. 23, 2010) Japanese management guru
Kenichi Ohmae said in Taipei
that the imminent cross-Taiwan Strait economic cooperation framework
agreement (ECFA) will be a "vitamin" for Taiwan's economy.
China’s Gravitational Pull
on Taiwan By Frederik Balfour
(Bloomberg, Jun. 17, 2010) China has 1,400 missiles pointed at Taiwan, a stark reminder that Beijing still views the
neighboring island as a renegade province. The two economies, however, have
rarely been more in sync.
Weighing the Costs in Asian
Trade Talks By Jonathan Adams
(New
York Times, May 13, 2010) Taiwan’s
president, Ma Ying-jeou, hopes to use the
Taiwan-China trade deal to fully normalize economic relations with Beijing while expanding
the island’s access to other markets.
All Economics Is Political:
ECFA Front and Center By Alan Romberg
(China
Leadership Monitor, Hoover Institution, Spring 2010) The transpacific
controversy between the U.S. and China seemed to have no impact on
cross-Strait relations, and, although not all was smooth sailing, Taipei and
Beijing began to close in on signing an Economic Cooperation Framework
Agreement (ECFA) by May or June.
Interview: Tsai Says No
Urgency for Trade Deal By Ralph Jennings and Jonathan Standing (Reuters, May 11,
2010) The DPP would seek a trade deal with Beijing
under international rules if it returns to power, seeking safeguards for Taiwan
that it says are missing in the pact the KMT government plans to sign next
month.
Optimizing Taiwan’s
Development By Tung Chen-yuan
(Taipei
Times, May 5, 2010) Taiwan has got to come out fighting and be more
pro-active in promoting global economic integration, while pushing unilateral
and domestically agreed upon deregulation. This is the only way we can avoid
getting caught in a geopolitical quagmire and circumvent the political
obstructions that China
is laying before us.
Debating China in Taiwan
(The
Economist, Apr. 29, 2010) Pollsters disagreed about who won the debate. But,
at the least, Mr Ma managed to halt the slide in
his popularity.
Hu’s New Year Charm
Offensive toward Taiwan By Russell Hsiao
(China
Brief, Jamestown Foundation, Feb. 18, 2010) As
the opposition-DPP gains momentum, the Chinese leadership is also stepping up
efforts to establish multiple platforms to further integrate the two sides of
the Taiwan Strait.
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.
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.
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