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ECFA Debate

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ECFA TV Debate
DateApril 25, 2010
LocationPublic Television Service,Neihu District,Taipei,Taiwan
ParticipantsMa Ying-jeou,Tsai Ing-wen
ECFA Debate
Traditional ChineseLưỡng ngạn kinh tế hiệp nghị điện thị biện luận
Simplified ChineseLưỡng ngạn kinh tế hiệp nghị điện thị biện luận
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu Pinyinliǎng'àn jīngjì xiéyì diànshì biànlùn
Yue: Cantonese
Jyutpingloeng5 ngon6 ging1 zai3 hip3 ji5 din6 si6 bin6 leon6
1. The Meeting of the Two Yings
2. The Debate of the Two Yings
Traditional Chinese1. Song anh hội
2. Song anh biện
Simplified Chinese1. Song anh hội
2. Song anh biện
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu Pinyin1. shuāng yīng huì
2. shuāng yīng biàn
Yue: Cantonese
Jyutping1. soeng1 jing1 wui6
2. soeng1 jing1 bin6

TheEconomic Cooperation Framework Agreement Television Debatewas a televised debate between thePresidentof theRepublic of China,Ma Ying-jeou,who is also chairman of theNationalist Party (Kuomintang),and the chairperson ofDemocratic Progressive Party,Tsai Ing-wen,which aired on April 25, 2010.

The termThe Meeting of the Two Yingsoriginates from the first character of both leaders' personal names (Chinese:Anh;pinyin:yīng). The debate was on theECFAand related issues, and was broadcast on Sunday of April 25, 2010 by thePublic Television Service.This was the first time the Republic of China President held a policy debate with the opposition. Ma himself also claimed the debate to be a first between the president and the opposition party chairperson.[1]

Debate

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Basic

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The debate consisted of three parts and lasted for a duration of 142 minutes in total. It focused on the proposed economic agreement betweenTaiwanandMainland Chinacalled theECFA.Ma represents the Kuomintang party in government, and claims Taiwan must sign an ECFA with thePeople's Republic of Chinain order to prevent Taiwan from being marginalized as a regional economy as other countries in the region become more integrated. Tsai disagreed with these claims, and stated that the government must get consent from the Taiwanese citizens through areferendumbefore signing the agreement. She expressed concerns that the trade pact could undermine Taiwan's sovereignty and lead to an influx of cheap Chinese products into Taiwan's market, which would hurt local industries with lower profits, higher unemployment and a lower average income.

The second round was held inTaoyuan County(now Taoyuan County).[2][3]The third round of talks took place on June 12, 2010, in Beijing with an agreement on list of products and services approved for tariff cuts.[4]

Content

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In the debate, Tsai asked if Ma would allow a floodgate of Chinese imports into Taiwan. Ma responded with a guarantee that Chinese agriculture products and labor would not be allowed into Taiwan. The Taiwanese people were not convinced on the issue.[5]Moreover, Tsai said that Taiwan would have to open the whole market internationally within ten years after signing the agreement. The mainland Chinese negotiators were confident when they discussed and negotiated with the Taiwan's representatives in regards to rules of origin, tax reduction for Taiwan's livestock and farming categories to mainland China.[6]

Comments

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Support

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The semi-official Chung-hua Institute for Economic Research in Taipei estimates that the agreement could create 260,000 jobs and add 1.7 percent to Taiwan's economy. Economists Dan Rosen and Wang Zhi of thePeterson Institute for International Economicsthinks the deal could add a net 5.3 percent to Taiwan's economy by 2020.[7]Rosen and Wang described the ECFA as "an ambitious accord that fundamentally changes the game between Taiwan and China and hence affects the regional economy and even the transpacific tempo for the United States."[8]

Criticism

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There is currently much controversy in Taiwan over the ECFA, including over potential effects on local Taiwanese businesses,[9]as well as on how the government has presented it to the public. The oppositionDemocratic Progressive Party(DPP) and otherpro-independencegroups believe the ECFA is a cover forunification with mainland China.Neither does it accord the same rights as aFree Trade Agreementwhich will reduce manufacturing jobs and average salary, acceleratecapital outflowandbrain drainof management and technology expertise.[10]

The opponents of the ECFA also indicated concerns about allowing the influx of mainland Chinesewhite-collar workersor professionals to work in Taiwan which could put thejob securityof locals at risk.[11]The Bureau of Foreign Trade under theMinistry of Economic Affairs(MOEA) has allayed those concerns indicating the professional job market would not be included in the talks.[11]

In addition, a series of cartoons created by theMinistry of Economic Affairs (Republic of China)attempted to explain the ECFA stereotyped local ethnic groups and their responses to the agreement, and was withdrawn after much controversy.[12][13]

The opposition party tried to put the ECFA agreement to the Taiwanese public through areferendum.[14][15]However, the government has denied the proposal on the grounds that the proposal addressed a hypothetical situation and failed to satisfy legal requirements.[16]

See also

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References

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  1. ^www.etaiwannews.com/-2010-04-25
  2. ^"President Ma brings ECFA campaign to Yunlin County".Focustaiwan.tw.Retrieved2010-07-01.
  3. ^Ko Shu-ling,Taipei Times2010/04/02
  4. ^"Taiwan and China wrap up 3rd round of ECFA talks with early harvest agreement China gives tariff benefits to 500 products and services, Taiwan lists 200".Taiwan News (www.etaiwannews.com). 2010-06-13.Retrieved2010-07-04.
  5. ^www.nownews.com/- 2010-04-26
  6. ^China Daily, (Xinhua)Cross-Strait economic pact's expert talks achieve positive results
  7. ^"/ China - China and Taiwan sign landmark deal".Ft.com.Retrieved2010-06-29.
  8. ^Rosen, Daniel; Wang Zhi (June 2010)."Deepening China-Taiwan Relations through the Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement"(PDF).Peterson Institute of International Economics - Policy Brief.PB10(16).
  9. ^Taipei Times2009/07/31
  10. ^"etaiwannews Editorial".Etaiwannews.com. 2009-10-06. Archived fromthe originalon 2011-06-04.Retrieved2010-07-01.
  11. ^ab"focustaiwan".Focustaiwan.tw.Retrieved2010-07-01.
  12. ^Taipei Times2009/07/29
  13. ^"etaiwannews".etaiwannews. 2009-07-24. Archived fromthe originalon 2016-03-04.Retrieved2010-07-01.
  14. ^"Taiwan Solidarity Union files new ECFA referendum request".Taiwan News (www.etaiwannews.com). 2010-07-01.Retrieved2010-07-05.
  15. ^"CEC approves ECFA referendum request".Etaiwannews.com. 2010-05-05. Archived fromthe originalon 2016-03-03.Retrieved2010-07-01.
  16. ^"ECFA referendum proposal moves to next stage".5 May 2010.Retrieved2010-07-01.
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