Agricultural exchanges between Taiwan and China remain uncertain despite Beijing's offer to broaden contacts and open its markets to Taiwan's farm products, industry insiders and experts said yesterday.
The issue has again become a focal point after Beijing made the overture, which came at a time when its "Anti-Secession" Law has poisoned the bilateral relationship. However, experts pointed out that a host of uncertainties remain because Taiwan and China differ in their motives and demands.
China can provide cheap labor, vast land, abundant raw materials and a huge market for Taiwan farmers -- who have been hampered by increased difficulties after the nation entered the World Trade Organization in January 2002 -- but they warned of long-term risks, such as technology flight to China and the reshipment of produce back to Taiwan, a situation that might deal a crushing blow to the domestic industry.
Yuan Ming-jen, a consultant at a foundation affiliated with the Mainland Affairs Council to serve China-based Taiwan businessmen, said that it would be better for Taiwan's farmers to set up exploration bases in China with the assistance of the government sector or farmers' associations. This would help give a new lease on life for the domestic industry, he said.
Council of Agriculture Chairman Lee Chin-lung (李金龍) termed Beijing's promise to offer preferential treatment to Taiwan farm products as just paying lip service, saying the issue is complex and the timing wrong, given the current cross-strait atmosphere.
Even if domestic goods are given greater access to the Chinese market, Taiwan's national interests must take precedence, Lee said.
Tien Chun-mei (
Taiwan is willing to provide technical and managerial assistance to China, while China is more interested in luring investment and trade from Taiwan, she said.
RSS