An independent legislative research body has warned that Taiwan's recently signed trade pact with China is designed to help Beijing bring the democratic island under its control, offering an unusually strong rebuke to the government. The report, which The Associated Press obtained Thursday July 29, presents a major challenge to President Ma Ying-jeou as he leads his ruling Nationalist Party into a series of crucial local elections later this year.
Ma has made the China trade pact -- officially known as the Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement or ECFA -- the centerpiece of his two-year-old presidency, arguing it is necessary to prevent Taiwan's economic marginalization, particularly as China moves forward with free trade deals with other countries in the region. Signed last month, ECFA will slash tariffs on a wide range of products and provide Taiwanese firms with access to new sectors such as banking and insurance on the mainland.
While the research report, authored by the Legislature's Legal Department, did not dispute that ECFA would have a positive economic impact, it did suggest damage to Taiwan's sovereignty -- much in line with claims from the opposition Democratic Progressive Party.
The report characterized ECFA as part of a well-crafted plan by Chinese President Hu Jintao to bring Taiwan ever closer to Beijing before he steps down in 2012. Source: Annie Huang, Canadian Press, Jul 29, 2010).