Chen calls on US to sign trade accord

President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) yesterday called on the US government to sign a free trade agreement (FTA) with Taiwan in order to safeguard Taiwan's economic security and maintain Asia-Pacific regional peace and stability amid China's attempts to edge Taiwan out of the economic ring.

Chen the remarks yesterday while receiving US Senator John Rockefeller, a West Virginia Democrat, at the Presidential Office.

"In a bid to preserve Taiwan's economic security, stabilize its national security and uphold peace in the Asia-Pacific region, it is necessary for the US government and its Congress to support and push for the signing of an FTA between the two countries," Chen said.

"China's rise is definitely not a peaceful rise. It is an economic and military rise," the president said. "The development of China's economic power has led many countries to harbor a fantasy about it ... China is actively courting ASEAN and Latin American countries into signing FTAs, through which it will work to marginalize Taiwan from taking part in the integration of the regional economy."

China, by vigorously signing FTAs with other countries, is at the same time preventing many countries from signing FTAs with Taiwan, Chen said, adding that "the purpose of this is to demote, trim and localize Taiwan's status and thereby weaken Taiwan's self-defense capability."

Chen with his US visitor a new definition of a country's national security.

"The new definition of a country's national security is not limited to just military and national defense, but includes a grander strategic concept that encompasses economic security and other security issues," Chen said. "Should Taiwan be marginalized from integration into the regional economy, what follows will be the marginalization of Taiwan's economic security, which will then affect Taiwan's national security and proceed to the next step of wearing down the security of the Asia-Pacific region."

Expressing for the US Congress' long-term concern over cross-strait security issues, Chen called on the US Congress not to neglect Taiwan's economic security while placing importance on Taiwan's military security.

"Signing an FTA between the US and Taiwan could prevent the US as well as other countries from having their economies tilt toward China," Chen said, adding that the US, by signing an FTA with Taiwan, would set a model for other countries who could sign similar treaties, and thus consolidate Taiwan's economic security.

Noting this was Rockefeller's 17th visit to Taiwan since 1985, Chen called the senator "Taiwan's best friend" and expressed gratitude for his "long-term unconditional support" for Taiwan.

Rockefeller, who has been a US senator since 1984, is a member of the Senate Finance Committee.

Prior meeting with Chen, Rockefeller yesterday morning delivered a speech at a seminar held by the Chung-Hua Institution for Economic Research and the Cross-Strait Common Market Foundation at the Formosa Regent Hotel.

Rockefeller he would promote cooperation between Taipei and the Bush administration to overcome difficulties in signing an FTA between the two sides.

Aside meeting with the president, Rockefeller, who arrived in Taiwan on Saturday, also met with Premier Frank Hsieh (謝長廷) and other officials and leaders from the private sector to exchange views on matters of mutual concern, particularly business and trade affairs.

He is slated to head to Japan after visiting Taiwan.

also see story: Rockefeller issues call for reform