By doing this, Ma said he hoped the two parties would show to the world that they could work together and discuss issues in a rational manner despite their differences.
While some were concerned the trade deal would compromise Taiwan’s sovereignty, Ma said “this is definitely not the case,” emphasizing that the top priority of his administration is to put Taiwan first for the benefit of the people.
The proposed accord would “without a doubt” enhance Taiwan’s competitiveness and “brighten the outlook” for negotiating similar trade arrangements with other countries, he said.
On the abolition of capital punishment, Ma said as the public is still polarized on this issue, “Before we change the law, we have to enforce the law,” he said.
“So the policy now is to gradually reduce the use of the death penalty,” he said. “I think it is realistic to have a policy to gradually reduce the use of the death penalty and then start a national discussion or debate in a very rational way just to find out whether we still need the death penalty to deal with heinous crimes.”
As the administration has begun preparations for the yearlong celebrations of the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Republic of China (ROC), Ma compared the last 100 years to a “comma,” but said it was nothing short of an “exclamation mark.”
‘CHINESE CULTURE’
He also urged the people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait to “think under the Chinese culture” what the final solution of the cross-strait problem would be.
However, he made a slip-up by saying that the ROC was founded in 1912.
On the role of the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT), where he doubles as chairman, Ma said the party would not play the role it once did.
“It will no longer dominate the government, but rather serve as some kind of a subsidiary but important help for the government,” he said. “After all, political parties are only civic groups according to our law.”
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