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Thousands demand referendum on trade pact with China
2010/06/26 20:04:46 |
Taipei, June 26 (CNA) Thousands of protesters rallied in downtown Taipei in heavy rain Saturday to voice their opposition to a trade pact between Taiwan and China and demand a referendum on the agreement before it takes effect.
Opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) heavyweights and the demonstrators contended that the economic cooperation framework agreement (ECFA), which is scheduled to be signed in Chongqing, China June 29, was negotiated without transparency and will put local small- and medium-sized businesses at risk.
"A referendum will be the last line of defense for Taiwan's democracy, " said DPP Chairwoman Tsai Ing-wen.
Taiwan's government has argued that the reduced tariffs, relaxed trade regulations and liberalized market access under the ECFA will boost Taiwan's economy and to prevent it from being marginalized as East Asia's economy becomes more integrated.
The DPP believes, however, that Taiwan, which currently sends 42 percent of its exports to China and places about 66 percent of its foreign direct investment there, will become even more dependent on China's economy after the ECFA is signed, said Julian Kuo, convener of the DPP's ECFA task force.
The ECFA negotiations also lacked transparency because they were not monitored by the Legislature or approved by the people, Kuo said.
"That's why a referendum is needed to gain the people's mandate on such an important issue that would affect the well-being of millions of people and thousands of private businesses," Kuo said.
Though items on the "early harvest" list, which was announced Thursday, will receive immediate tariff reductions, a majority of the beneficiaries will be large businesses rather than SMEs, said former Vice President Annette Lu, who also expressed concerns about an influx of cheap Chinese products.
Tsai said Taiwan was in danger of losing its "community-based businesses" after the cross-Strait agreement goes into effect because Taiwan will be integrated into China's economy as a part of its supply chain, she said.
"Eventually Taiwan's economy will be a part of China's economy, " she said. "We're here to protect Taiwan's independent rights to make our own decision and speak for disadvantaged groups."
The rally was comprised of two groups of protesters that arrived from separate starting times before gathering at the plaza in front of the Presidential Office.
Heavy rain began falling just past 5 p.m. before the two groups arrived, which may have affected turnout. The number of demonstrators appeared to be well below 100,000, the number the DPP said it would mobilize for the protest.
Former President Lee Teng-hui also attended the rally and spoke against the agreement, saying that the ECFA is not a good policy that benefits Taiwan's people. (By Chris Wang) enditem/ls
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