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- Comprehensive economic cooperation agreement, planned under the principle of safeguarding the overall interests of Taiwan and for the benefit of the people, will be promoted in an orderly and gradual manner
- After initial consultations with relevant ministries, the MAC will temporarily not allow Mainland advertisements to be broadcast or published in Taiwan
- Cross-strait professional exchanges are regular in nature; Mainland professionals granted approval may come to Taiwan to engage in relevant activities
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MAC Regular Press Briefing
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Briefer : Johnnason Liu, Deputy Minister
Date : February 19, 2009
Location : Taipei |
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
Comprehensive economic cooperation agreement, planned under the principle of safeguarding the overall interests of Taiwan and for the benefit of the people, will be promoted in an orderly and gradual manner
QUESTION: Is there a tendency that the Chinese term for the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement will be adopted instead of the English term? Has the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) discussed its contents with the Ministry of Economic Affairs?
DEPUTY MINISTER LIU:
■ In the campaign platform of President Ma Ying-jeou, the term used was a comprehensive economic cooperation agreement, and the joint cross-strait discussions on such an agreement are a policy direction of the government. It is hoped that the economic negotiations already conducted between the Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) and the Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Strait (ARATS) in recent times will help build a positive foundation for the comprehensive economic cooperation agreement.
■ As to the scope, contents, modes of promotion, and the timing of the comprehensive economic cooperation agreement, there are many aspects that need to be addressed by the relevant agencies, which will carry out active communications among themselves on this matter. Moreover, it is also imperative that both sides of the Strait conduct initial communications on the contents of such an agreement.
■ Every time when there is a discussion on the comprehensive economic cooperation agreement under the government mechanism, the MAC always participates in the discussions and expresses its views. As for the matters that require communications between the SEF and the ARATS, we believe that both entities will also make the necessary initial explanations.
QUESTION: Will the comprehensive economic cooperation agreement be included into the issues for dialogue in the Third Chiang-Chen Talks?
DEPUTY MINISTER LIU: A dialogue requires an appropriate setting. Right now the issues to be covered in the Third Chiang-Chen Talks are the four issues that have been authorized for negotiations. We have already briefed you on this matter.
QUESTION: The opposition party has strongly questioned and heavily criticized the comprehensive economic cooperation agreement. If the government entities already have a draft or a completed version of the document, will they first brief the opposition party or the Legislative Yuan before conducting discussions with the other side of the Strait?
DEPUTY MINISTER LIU: Based on our experience during the First and Second Chiang-Chen Talks, when it comes to any matter that involves communications on cross-strait agreements, we will always engage in close interactions with the Legislative Yuan prior to the talks. We believe that based on these experiences, we will reinforce our efforts to conduct necessary communications with the Legislative Yuan and the opposition legislative caucuses and explain to them. It is an inevitable development of democratic government that the Executive Yuan shall be responsible to the Legislative Yuan.
QUESTION: Why can’t we yet negotiate on a comprehensive economic cooperation agreement with mainland China at this moment?
DEPUTY MINISTER LIU:
■ When it comes to a comprehensive economic cooperation agreement, an important premise lies in the normalization of cross-strait trade and economic relations and economic development. Therefore, the negotiation mechanism between the SEF and the ARATS serves as an important foundation for establishing normalization of trade and economic relations across the Strait. As for the scope, contents, modes of promotion, and the timing, the relevant agencies will carry out the necessary discussions. The government will actively communicate with the various sectors of society before implementing it.
■ This matter also involves cross-strait interaction. It is also necessary that both sides carry out initial communications on the relevant issues. Once the contents have been determined, then it will be the best time to negotiate with the other side of the Strait.
QUESTION: The MAC thinks that the Chinese term for a comprehensive economic cooperation agreement cannot be translated into the English acronym CECA. However, many government officials, including SEF Chairman Chiang Pin-kung, have continued to verbally use the English acronym CECA. Will the MAC communicate with the relevant ministries to minimize the use of the English acronym CECA?
DEPUTY MINISTER LIU:
■ We hope that by using the Chinese term we will be able to let everybody gain sufficient understanding of the issues that both sides must jointly face in the future. President Ma Ying-jeou has also stressed all along that this is a comprehensive agreement on economic cooperation.
■ We believe that the use of the Chinese term for a comprehensive economic cooperation agreement will enable the Taiwanese people to fully understand the interactive foundation to be built between both sides in the future. The use of the English acronym might perhaps be more convenient in expression, but the substantive contents cannot be presented in the English acronym. We believe that the substantive contents are most conducive to enabling the public to gain a direct understanding in this regard. As such, we still hope that the Chinese term for a comprehensive economic cooperation agreement will be used in making explanations to the public.
QUESTION: Some days ago, there was a message from the Ministry of Economic Affairs indicating that the draft of the comprehensive economic cooperation agreement has already been released. When will an inter-ministerial meeting be held for discussions? Will a framework agreement be signed first? Or will all the contents be decided on first before a signing will take place?
DEPUTY MINISTER LIU: When it comes to the statement made by the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) regarding this matter, it would be proper to inquire of the MOEA. The MAC does not have other comments on this matter.
QUESTION: There have been subtle changes in the naming issue of the comprehensive economic cooperation agreement. In the past few days, it was still referred to as an “agreement.” But in a published letter of MAC Minister Lai in today’s newspaper and in your announcement earlier today, it has been changed to an “accord.” Is there any difference between the two?
DEPUTY MINISTER LIU:
■ With regard to the Act Governing Relations Between People of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area, whether the term “agreement” or other terms are used in cross-strait documents, as long as they are signed between the SEF and the ARATS, they will be governed by the stipulations of the Act.
■ We did understand that there would probably be varying developments in terms of the name to be used, but the direction is consistent no matter what the term is used. There is no significant difference as long as they are signed between the SEF and the ARATS. Moreover, some mainland Chinese documents do use the term “accord.”
QUESTION: Recently, the senior figures in the country’s industrial and commercial sectors have been urging both sides to sign the comprehensive economic cooperation agreement as soon as possible. But according to your statement, it might not be signed by the end of this year, or even by next year. Once the ASEAN+3 framework takes effect in January next year, will the Taiwanese enterprises have other means in facing international competition?
DEPUTY MINISTER LIU:
■ I didn’t mention any timetable earlier. The signing of a comprehensive economic cooperation agreement between both sides of the Strait is an established policy direction. Therefore, the relevant ministries will carry out the necessary discussions and planning on this matter.
■ As to how the domestic industries are going to face the issues stemming from the implementation of the ASEAN+3 framework, the Ministry of Economic Affairs has especially explained that the relevant safeguard measures will be actively planned. Moreover, the other relevant agencies will also provide necessary assistance and handle related matters.
After initial consultations with relevant ministries, the MAC will temporarily not allow Mainland advertisements to be broadcast or published in Taiwan
QUESTION: What is the progress of the policy to allow Mainland advertisements in Taiwan? Recently television stations have been broadcasting advertisements of a Mainland portal website, Alibaba. Aren’t they considered illegal?
DEPUTY MINISTER LIU:
■ Whether Mainland advertisements would be allowed in Taiwan or not, the MAC will consult with the opinions of the relevant government agencies. We have previously convened the relevant agencies to especially discuss whether advertisements on real estate would be allowed to be broadcast or published in Taiwan. After the Ministry of the Interior convened the real estate associations for their opinions, the MOI’s initial reply was that it is still not appropriate to adjust the existing regulations right now. Therefore, advertisements concerning mainland Chinese real estate will not be allowed in Taiwan temporarily.
■ Article 34 of the Act Governing Relations Between People of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area stipulates that the content of the advertisement and activity will be determined and disposed by each competent authority. If there is any doubt, the MAC in conjunction with the authorities concerned and scholars or experts form a review committee to make a decision. Therefore, the MAC is not the competent authority. At present it is still being clarified whether the authority responsible for the matter regarding Alibaba is the Government Information Office or the National Communications Commission (NCC). Once this is determined, this matter will be handled by the competent authority.
Cross-strait professional exchanges are regular in nature; Mainland professionals granted approval may come to Taiwan to engage in relevant activities
QUESTION: The Ninth Symposium on Economic and Trade Cooperation Between Both Sides of the Taiwan Strait and Hong Kong and Macao was held in Taipei yesterday. It was presided over by Huang Mengfu, who is Vice Chairman of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference. Does the MAC have any relevant information on this matter? If yes, then why were there no protective measures adopted like that when ARATS Chairman Chen Yunlin visited Taiwan?
DEPUTY MINISTER LIU: In terms of cross-strait professional exchanges, no restrictions will be imposed on the ranks the participants hold. As long as any Mainland professional whose professional qualifications and other items have been reviewed by the National Immigration Agency and relevant agencies and who has been granted an entry permit to Taiwan, the applicant may visit Taiwan to engage in relevant activities within the permitted scope. Cross-strait professional exchanges are regular activities, and therefore no such measures as you have mentioned are adopted.