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Chen says KMT's `common market' a `one China' ploy

Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) presidential candidate Ma Ying-jeou, right, exercises with Chiayi Mayor Huang Min-hui, front left, during an event that was part of celebrations of the 25th anniversary of Chiayi's elevation to city status. PHOTO: CNA

President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) yesterday denounced the "cross-strait common market" proposed by the Chinese Nationalist Party's (KMT) presidential candidate, describing it as a disaster that would compromise the nation's sovereignty and pave the way for unification with China.

"The cross-strait common market is the `one China market' because it uses the market as a front to promote `one China,'" Chen said. "It is like the so-called `1992 consensus,' where they use the word consensus to promote the concept of `one China.'"

While the "1992 consensus" is the political "one China," Chen said the "cross-strait common market" is the economic "one China" and their ultimate goal was to ignore Taiwan's sovereignty and facilitate unification with China.

Chen made the remarks while addressing employees of a technology company owned by Formosa Plastics Group founder Wang Yung-ching (王永慶) in Taoyuan County yesterday morning.

Chen said that although "a [certain] political party" had said that the proposal was aimed at improving the economy rather than engaging in political competition with the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), the essence of the proposal was to dance to the tune of China's strategy of using the economy to pressure Taiwan for unification.

Under the "one China market," Chen said that Chinese labor, products and capital could enter Taiwan without any restrictions and further hollow out local industries.

"It is not an inflammatory statement," he said. "The `one China market' will spell the beginning of disaster and our economy will completely be devoured by China."

Chen said the KMT had also proposed turning Taiwan into a "regional free trade zone" -- a proposition he described as "a serious mistake."

"Taiwan is an independent sovereignty, not a local government or a special administrative zone of China," he said. "Together, the one China market and the regional free trade zone will downgrade Taiwan to an outlying island of China and the 23 million people of Taiwan must guard against such an overture."

Besides, the establishment of a free trade zone involves the signing of bilateral or multilateral free trade agreements and should proceed gradually in a gradual and in a reciprocal manner, he said.

Unilaterally declaring Taiwan as a "regional free trade zone" will only unconditionally open the local market to the international community and Taiwan's economy is bound to suffer a deadly blow, he said.

"I urge the public to take a serious and responsible attitude," he said. "I am calling on you to vehemently denounce the proposal which is unrealistic and wishful."

Rather than fantasizing about a "one China market," Chen said the nation would benefit more from pragmatic policies to enhance its development.

In response to the criticism, Ma yesterday struck back and blamed the president for a sagging economy in the past seven years.

"President Chen has vowed to improve the economy but has done nothing but play with different slogans ... He is in no position to criticize the proposal," Ma said in Taipei.

Ma argued that he and his running mate, Vincent Siew (蕭萬長), proposed the policy to save the economy.

Ma also lashed out at Chen for speaking "nonsense" by describing their common market proposal as a promotion of the "one China" policy.

"We have always opposed [China's] `one country, two systems' and have never proposed opening the job market to Chinese workers," Ma said while urging Chen to reflect on his own economic policies before criticizing his proposal.

As the nation's leader, Ma said Chen should tell the people how to improve the economy, especially after more and more Taiwanese companies had chosen to outsource and European and US companies had criticized the government's economic policies.

Additional reporting by Mo Yan-chih
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