The government will continue working toward the goal of signing a trade pact with China during the next round of high-level cross-strait talks to be held in the first half of this year in China, despite some uncertainty over that time frame, Minister of Economic Affairs Shih Yen-shiang (施顏祥) said yesterday.
Shih said the two sides are trying to arrange formal negotiations on the proposed economic cooperation framework agreement (ECFA) through the Straits Exchange Foundation and Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Strait (ARATS).
The exact date would be known very soon, he said.
The government is hoping to sign the agreement during the fifth meeting between SEF Chairman Chiang Pin-kung (江丙坤) and ARATS Chairman Chen Yunlin (陳雲林).
MORE TIME NEEDED?
However, the Chinese-language China Times on Wednesday quoted Chen as saying that it might be difficult to seal the ECFA in the fifth round of talks unless both sides make careful preparations over a long period of time.
He said the negotiations on ECFA issues would take time because of their complexity.
Bureau of Foreign Trade Director General Huang Chih-peng (黃志鵬) said yesterday he had no indication from Beijing that signing an ECFA might be delayed and the two sides were preparing for the opening of formal ECFA negotiations later this month.
NO RUSH
Meanwhile, Vice Minister of Economic Affairs Liang Kuo-hsin (梁國新) said that Chen’s comment should not be interpreted negatively, because he was only reminding the concerned parties to prepare properly for the negotiations.
The two sides will not rush to sign the pact, Liang said.
The Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) reaffirmed the administration’s plan to sign an ECFA with China in May.
COMPLICATED ISSUE
Deputy Council Minister Liu Te-shun (劉德勳) said that the planned pact was complicated and that was why both sides have made preparations before the negotiations, including individual research and joint studies.
Liu said both sides realized the complexity of the proposed accord, which is different from a free-trade agreement, so they would tackle it in a piecemeal manner, he said.
There would be an “early harvest measure” in place to benefit bilateral trade, he said.
ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY KUO SHU-LING
Four factors led to the declaration of a typhoon day and the cancelation of classes yesterday, Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安) said. Work and classes were canceled across Taiwan yesterday as Typhoon Krathon was forecast to make landfall in the southern part of the country. However, northern Taiwan had only heavy winds during the day and rain in the evening, leading some to criticize the cancelation. Speaking at a Taipei City Council meeting yesterday, Chiang said the decision was made due to the possibility of landslides and other problems in mountainous areas, the need to avoid a potentially dangerous commute for those
Typhoon Krathon, a military airshow and rehearsals for Double Ten National Day celebrations might disrupt flights at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport in the first 10 days of next month, the airport’s operator said yesterday. Taoyuan International Airport Corp said in a statement that it has established a response center after the Central Weather Administration issued a sea warning for Krathon, and urged passengers to remain alert to the possibility of disruptions caused by the storm in the coming days. Flight schedules might also change while the air force conducts rehearsals and holds a final airshow for Double Ten National Day, it added. Although
SEMICONDUCTORS: TSMC is able to produce 2-nanometer chips and mass production is expected to be launched by next year, the company said In leading-edge semiconductor manufacturing China is behind Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC) by at least 10 years as the Taiwanese chipmaker’s manufacturing process has progressed to 2 nanometers, National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) Minister Wu Cheng-wen (吳誠文) said yesterday. Wu made the remarks during a meeting of the Legislative Yuan’s Education and Culture Committee when asked by Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Wu Pei-yi (吳沛憶) about a report published in August by the Chinese version of Nikkei Asia that said Taiwan’s lead over China in chip manufacturing was only three years. She asked Wu Cheng-wen if the report was an accurate
PRO-CHINA SLOGANS: Two DPP members criticized police officers’ lack of action at the scene, saying that law enforcement authorities should investigate the incident Chinese tourists allegedly interrupted a protest in Taipei on Tuesday held by Hong Kongers, knocked down several flags and shouted: “Taiwan and Hong Kong belong to China.” Hong Kong democracy activists were holding a demonstration as Tuesday was China’s National Day. A video posted online by civic group Hong Kong Outlanders shows a couple, who are allegedly Chinese, during the demonstration. “Today is China’s National Day, and I won’t allow the displaying of these flags,” the male yells in the video before pushing some demonstrators and knocking down a few flagpoles. Radio Free Asia reported that some of the demonstrators
RSS