Mainland Affairs Council (陸委會) Chairwoman Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文), yesterday said that as a democracy, Taiwan would not rule out conducting a referendum on the controversial subject of reunification with China, but at the same time urged closer cooperation between the two economies.
"In a democratic system the final decision on reunification and what method is used to reach that decision should be up to the people," Tsai said. But she went on to say that the government was still discussing this question and that no conclusion had yet been reached.
China, which considers Taiwan a renegade province, strongly objects to any talk of a referendum on reunification, an issue over which it has said it would invade if Taiwan continues to drag its feet.
Tsai made the remarks to reporters before delivering a speech to the Chinese National Association of Industry and Commerce (
In her speech, Tsai said that in the face of increasing exchanges across the strait, the looming entry of both sides into the WTO and the trend of globalization, both sides should take a practical attitude toward strengthening economic ties.
"Both sides should cooperate to establish a strategy of `sharing resources so both economies can flourish' and extend the economic influence of both sides of the strait within Asia and the world," Tsai said.
Tsai said that as labor and land costs rise in Taiwan, many sunset industries and small and medium-sized companies are finding relief in China, where both of these resources are abundant and cheap.
Taiwan's investments in China -- which she claimed have reached US$24.8 billion -- have provided more than 3 million jobs, Tsai said.
Tsai's remarks were similar to those made by former premier Vincent Siew (蕭萬長) in yesterday's edition of the Asian Wall Street Journal, in which he suggests the formation of a "common market" across the strait based on the European model.
"Both sides should put aside their political differences ... begin with an agenda of complementary and mutually beneficial trade and investment, and jointly move toward the formation of a common market," Siew said.
Tsai also said that in line with its entry into the WTO, Taiwan will have to alter its restrictions on investment in China and would need to devise a response to the lifting of bans on imports and financial services.
RSS