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Taiwan calls off delegation after PRC delays talks

Taiwan called off a delegation that was to have left yesterday morning for informal trade talks in China, after Beijing said it needed more time to prepare, a Taiwanese official said.

This marked the latest in a series of delays in the talks, the fourth round since the election of President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) t last year.

“[China] informed us a couple of days ago they need more time to prepare for the talks. Their schedule is tight,” said Huang Chih-peng (黃志鵬), director of the Bureau of Foreign Trade and the head of the delegation.

Last month, Taiwan delayed the informal talks, saying that its officials were busy answering budget questions in the legislature.

The two sides are trying to find a new time for the talks, which are expected to set a timetable for formal discussions on a long-awaited bilateral trade agreement, Huang said.

“Despite the delay, our goal of signing the trade agreement stays the same,” Huang said.

Ma’s government aims for an agreement to be signed early next year, but the opposition has warned that the pact could imperil Taiwan’s sovereignty.
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