Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) presidential candidate Frank Hsieh (謝長廷) yesterday said he was opposed to the "cross-strait common market" that has been proposed by the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT), adding it would lead to unification with China.
Hsieh said a government study had shown that the plan would deal a significant blow to local industries.
"The `cross-strait common market' is a `one China market,'" Hsieh said. "It will only drive up unemployment and lead to lower salaries."
Hsieh, who doubles as DPP chairman, made the remarks after listening to a report delivered by Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) Chairman Chen Ming-tong (陳明通) at the party's Central Standing Committee meeting yesterday afternoon in Taipei.
Tuan Yi-kang (段宜康), DPP deputy secretary-general, who doubles as a spokesman for Hsieh's campaign, told reporters after the committee meeting that if the "cross-strait common market" were implemented the nation's jobless rate would jump to more than 10 percent and average monthly salaries would decrease by NT$1,000.
Under the scheme, the flow of capital and labor across the Taiwan Strait would be freer, making it more difficult for local laborers to find a job. Traditional industries would be especially hurt and the gap between rich and poor would increase, he said.
"The `cross-strait common market' would be a disaster for Taiwan," Tuan said. "Politically, Taiwan would be forced into a de facto unification with China and then de jure unification."
Tuan said KMT vice presidential candidate Vincent Siew (
Siew, however, denies that he ever said the "cross-strait common market" was a "one China market," and criticized Hsieh for "twisting" his words.
Tuan said that if Siew does not have the guts to claim responsibility for his own idea then he and Ma cannot be expected to stand up for the Taiwanese in the face of pressure from Beijing, should they be elected to lead the nation.
Tuan said that Siew published an article in a magazine in August 2005 saying the "cross-strait common market" is the "one China market." He made similar remarks when he delivered a speech at Tamkang University in December 2005, Tuan said.
The National Immigration Agency (NIA) said yesterday that it will revoke the dependent-based residence permit of a Chinese social media influencer who reportedly “openly advocated for [China’s] unification through military force” with Taiwan. The Chinese national, identified by her surname Liu (劉), will have her residence permit revoked in accordance with Article 14 of the “Measures for the permission of family- based residence, long-term residence and settlement of people from the Mainland Area in the Taiwan Area,” the NIA said in a news release. The agency explained it received reports that Liu made “unifying Taiwan through military force” statements on her online
A magnitude 5.7 earthquake struck off Taitung County at 1:09pm today, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. The hypocenter was 53km northeast of Taitung County Hall at a depth of 12.5km, CWA data showed. The intensity of the quake, which gauges the actual effect of a seismic event, measured 4 in Taitung County and Hualien County on Taiwan's seven-tier intensity scale, the data showed. The quake had an intensity of 3 in Nantou County, Chiayi County, Yunlin County, Kaohsiung and Tainan, the data showed. There were no immediate reports of damage following the quake.
Actor Darren Wang (王大陸) is to begin his one-year alternative military service tomorrow amid ongoing legal issues, the Ministry of the Interior said yesterday. Wang, who last month was released on bail of NT$150,000 (US$4,561) as he faces charges of allegedly attempting to evade military service and forging documents, has been ordered to report to Taipei Railway Station at 9am tomorrow, the Alternative Military Service Training and Management Center said. The 33-year-old would join about 1,300 other conscripts in the 263rd cohort of general alternative service for training at the Chenggong Ling camp in Taichung, a center official told reporters. Wang would first
MINOR DISRUPTION: The outage affected check-in and security screening, while passport control was done manually and runway operations continued unaffected The main departure hall and other parts of Terminal 2 at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport lost power on Tuesday, causing confusion among passengers before electricity was fully restored more than an hour later. The outage, the cause of which is still being investigated, began at about midday and affected parts of Terminal 2, including the check-in gates, the security screening area and some duty-free shops. Parts of the terminal immediately activated backup power sources, while others remained dark until power was restored in some of the affected areas starting at 12:23pm. Power was fully restored at 1:13pm. Taoyuan International Airport Corp said in a
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