Minister of Economic Affairs Shih Yen-shiang (施顏祥) said yesterday that Taiwan, as a WTO member, has the right to seek free trade deals with as many countries as it chooses, a move recently strongly opposed by China.
Asked on Tuesday whether the cross-strait economic pact would help Taipei pursue other free trade agreements (FTA), Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu (馬朝旭) said that Beijing “firmly objects to any official exchanges Taiwan has with China’s diplomatic allies”
The remarks came as a major embarrassment for the Taiwanese government, as its officials have repeatedly said that a cross-strait trade pact could open doors to Taiwan signing FTAs with Japan, the US and Southeast Asian nations.
“Pursuing EPAs and FTAs is the right of WTO members. Taiwan, is of course a member and has these rights,” Shih said, referring to Economic Partnership Agreements and Free Trade Agreement.
“We would like to do our best and continue EPA and FTA negotiations with our main trading partners,” he said, speaking on the sidelines at a meeting of APEC trade ministers in northern Japan.
Some US$109 billion (NT$3.5 trillion) worth of products a year flow across the Taiwan Strait and while the pact will slash tariffs on hundreds of these, it has divided Taiwan into two camps; those who see its US$390 billion economy benefiting from more access to China’s markets and those who fear over-reliance on a political rival.
While President Ma Ying-jeou’s (馬英九) administration had previously expressed confidence that an economic cooperation framework agreement (ECFA) with China would be signed this month, Shih yesterday declined to confirm that timeframe.
“Of course, both sides expected to see difficulties and obstacles in ECFA ... We are trying to sign this as soon as possible,” he said.
Ocean Affairs Council (OAC) Minister Kuan Bi-ling (管碧玲) on Wednesday said decommissioned coast guard vessels were given to the Philippines to enhance regional rescue capacity and would not affect Taiwanese fishers’ rights and benefits. Kuan made the remarks after confirmation on Tuesday that a 500-tonne Coast Guard Administration (CGA) patrol and rescue vessel would be given to the Philippine Coast Guard. The donation ceremony was reportedly done in Manila, but whether the vessel — previously numbered “CG123” and named Kinmen (金門) — has been handed over has yet to be confirmed. China’s Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO) on Wednesday criticized the donation for “taking
UPDATE: The submarine would need to undergo combined systems testing and crew training for navy personnel before it is ready for mission, an expert said Taiwan’s first domestically built submarine, the Hai Kun (Narwhal, 海鯤), could be delivered to the navy as early as next month, military expert and Taiwan Association for Security and Development chairman Chi Tung-yun (紀東昀) said yesterday. The submarine was yesterday morning observed departing for its 21st sea trial and its 15th submerged test. The vessel missed the initial delivery deadline of November last year due to “testing delays,” its primary contractor, shipbuilder CSBC Corp, Taiwan, said in June. The contractor also cited “political pressure from China” in procuring critical equipment. All testing operations are in the final stages, with the
Six NT$10 million (US$315,527) special prizes and seven NT$2 million grand prizes in Taiwan's May-June uniform invoice lottery remained unclaimed as of today, including one NT$10 million winner who spent only NT$10 on an Uber Eats delivery order, the Ministry of Finance said. The ministry said the 13 winners need to claim their prizes by Nov. 5. The eight-digit serial number that won the NT$10 million special prize for May-June was 38548029, with 18 winning receipts in total. The NT$2 million grand prize number was 10138845, of which there were 22 winning receipts, the ministry said. In addition to the receipt issued for an
The Ministry of Finance today announced the winning numbers for the July-August uniform invoice lottery. The winning number for the NT$10 million (US$314,663) special prize is 89996565, while the winning number for the NT$2 million grand prize is 91098182. Three numbers were drawn for the NT$200,000 first prize: 54348835, 44991397 and 06595111. Those with receipts matching the last seven digits of any of the first-prize numbers can claim the NT$40,000 second prize, while those matching the last six digits qualify for the NT$10,000 third prize. Those whose receipts match the last five digits of the first-prize numbers are eligible for the NT$4,000 fourth prize,
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