The Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU) yesterday said a referendum on the Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA) must go ahead as planned, despite the signing of the pact late last month.
TSU Chairperson Huang Kun-huei (黃昆輝) said the referendum was part of an essential democratic process and accurately reflected many of the concerns that the public has raised over the controversial trade pact.
The ECFA will lower trade and customs barriers, but first it must pass a legislative review.
Opposition parties, which have fielded large protests against the agreement, said the trade pact would have a negative impact on Taiwan’s traditional industries because of cheaper Chinese imports. It would also increase Taiwan’s economic and political dependence on China, they said.
“Chinese President Hu Jintao (胡錦濤) says the signing of the ECFA took place under the ‘One China’ framework — remarks that haven’t been rejected by the Chinese Nationalist Party [KMT],” Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Chai Trong-rong (蔡同榮) said. “Signing the ECFA was an admission that Taiwan is part of China.”
Traditional industry representatives also support a referendum..
“Everybody knows the ECFA was signed for large corporations,” said Huang Kuang-yi (黃光藝), head of the Taiwan Bedding Industry Alliance, which represents more than 140 industry professionals.
“Taiwan’s traditional industries are scared to death of being damaged by Chinese [imports],” he said. “But Ma wants to pull [China] even closer, which could kill [these] industries.”
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