President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) canceled all public events yesterday to prepare for the debate on an economic cooperation framework agreement (ECFA) with Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Chairperson Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) tomorrow.
Ma has been spending several hours each day discussing issues related to the debate with his aides in preparation for the debate, and tomorrow will stress the importance and necessity of signing an ECFA with China, Presidential Office Spokesman Lo Chih-chiang (羅智強) said.
Vice President Vincent Siew (蕭萬長) has organized a team of academics, industry representatives and officials to help Ma prepare for the debate.
Lo and former Presidential Office spokesman Wang Yu-chi (王郁琦) are responsible for drafting questions and answers to simulate the debate.
Lo yesterday said Ma had been promoting the government’s plan to sign an ECFA with China for more than a year, and he would present a comprehensive case on the importance of an ECFA from the perspective of international and cross-strait economic development.
Ma will not avoid discussing the negative impacts of an ECFA during the debate, Lo said, and will address the challenges Taiwan will face after signing the economic pact.
The Presidential Office had originally wanted the two to have a “dialogue,” but later agreed to debate issues related to an ECFA after the DPP insisted on holding a debate on the controversial cross-strait pact.
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