Eight local governments under the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) signed a pledge yesterday to refuse to cooperate with the central government’s call to promote an economic cooperation framework agreement (ECFA).
“A proposed Taiwan-China economic cooperation framework agreement is a significant matter and should be decided by Taiwanese,” Chiayi County Commissioner Chang Hwa-kuan (張花冠) said at a news conference.
Chang also displayed a statement signed by Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chu (陳菊), Kaohsiung County Commissioner Yang Chiu-hsing (楊秋興), Pingtung County Commissioner Tsao Chi-hung (曹啟鴻), Tainan Mayor Hsu Tain-tsair (?]), Tainan County Commissioner Su Huan-chih (蘇煥智), Yunlin County Commissioner Su Chih-fen (蘇治芬) and Yilan County Commissioner Lin Tsung-hsien (林聰賢).
PHOTO: LIAO CHEN-HUEI, TAIPEI TIMES
“Until the government comes up with a good explanation of the pros and cons of the pact, we refuse to serve as messengers for the administration of President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九),” Chang said, adding that the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) government has not fully disclosed all of the relevant information.
Chang said the central government has only bothered to discuss the good side of the pact, but it has not told the public about the disadvantages.
She also said that the Ma administration is damaging Taiwan’s democracy and economy by pushing the trade deal through without the people’s consent.
Meanwhile, at a separate setting yesterday, Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU) Chairman Huang Kun-huei (黃昆輝) called on the Ma administration not to keep China’s “early harvest” list from the public.
The early harvest list refers to a list of goods and services that will be subject to immediate tariff concessions or exemptions, which are expected to form the backbone of the proposed deal.
The TSU has previously cited internal government reports as saying that China’s early harvest list concentrated on financial, communications, technology and media sectors. If passed, it could dramatically increase Chinese investment in these sensitive industries, the TSU said.
Additional reporting by Rich Chang
Three batches of banana sauce imported from the Philippines were intercepted at the border after they were found to contain the banned industrial dye Orange G, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said yesterday. From today through Sept. 2 next year, all seasoning sauces from the Philippines are to be subject to the FDA’s strictest border inspection, meaning 100 percent testing for illegal dyes before entry is allowed, it said in a statement. Orange G is an industrial coloring agent that is not permitted for food use in Taiwan or internationally, said Cheng Wei-chih (鄭維智), head of the FDA’s Northern Center for
The Chinese military has built landing bridge ships designed to expand its amphibious options for a potential assault on Taiwan, but their combat effectiveness is limited due to their high vulnerability, a defense expert said in an analysis published on Monday. Shen Ming-shih (沈明室), a research fellow at the Institute for National Defense and Security Research, said that the deployment of such vessels as part of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy’s East Sea Fleet signals a strong focus on Taiwan. However, the ships are highly vulnerable to precision strikes, which means they could be destroyed before they achieve their intended
LOOKING NORTH: The base would enhance the military’s awareness of activities in the Bashi Channel, which China Coast Guard ships have been frequenting, an expert said The Philippine Navy on Thursday last week inaugurated a forward operating base in the country’s northern most province of Batanes, which at 185km from Taiwan would be strategically important in a military conflict in the Taiwan Strait. The Philippine Daily Inquirer quoted Northern Luzon Command Commander Lieutenant General Fernyl Buca as saying that the base in Mahatao would bolster the country’s northern defenses and response capabilities. The base is also a response to the “irregular presence this month of armed” of China Coast Guard vessels frequenting the Bashi Channel in the Luzon Strait just south of Taiwan, the paper reported, citing a
UNDER PRESSURE: The report cited numerous events that have happened this year to show increased coercion from China, such as military drills and legal threats The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) aims to reinforce its “one China” principle and the idea that Taiwan belongs to the People’s Republic of China by hosting celebratory events this year for the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, the “retrocession” of Taiwan and the establishment of the UN, the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) said in its latest report to the Legislative Yuan. Taking advantage of the significant anniversaries, Chinese officials are attempting to assert China’s sovereignty over Taiwan through interviews with international news media and cross-strait exchange events, the report said. Beijing intends to reinforce its “one China” principle
RSS