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- Government will not rule out the possibility of including the ECFA in the agenda of the Third Chiang-Chen Talks
- Except the four issues that have been authorized for negotiations, contents of the dialogue to be conducted at the third Chiang-Chen Talks have yet to be formulated
- Concrete contents of the ECFA are being formulated by the MOEA
- It is hoped that consensus will be reached on allowing Mainland capital to invest in Taiwan at the Third Chiang-Chen Talks, but this will not involve the concrete items of deregulation
- The MAC welcomes more cross-strait media exchanges that help provide more in-depth and comprehensive news coverage
- GIO will deliberate on the implementation of the policy to allow Mainland film crew members of drama programs to film dramatic scenes in Taiwan on a trial basis
- Government currently does not have any plan to discuss the possibility of allowing Taiwan’s cars to be driven in mainland China
- Application of personnel involved with national confidential matters to travel to mainland China will be reviewed by a committee headed by MOI
- Itinerary of ARATS directors and supervisors is being planned by the SEF
- Relevant issues concerning the agenda of the “Cross-strait Hakka Forum” are being understood by the competent authorities
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MAC Regular Press Briefing
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Briefer : Johnnason Liu, Deputy Minister
Date : March 19, 2009
Location : Taipei |
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
Government will not rule out the possibility of including the ECFA in the agenda of the Third Chiang-Chen Talks
QUESTION: What is the current progress of the preparations for the Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA)? Will the signing of this agreement be completed at the Third Chiang-Chen Talks?
DEPUTY MINISTER LIU:
■ Right now the Ministry of Economic Affairs is communicating with the relevant industries on this issue, with the aim of making the public opinion the foundation of future negotiations, in order to guarantee that such an agreement will truly protect the interests of the relevant industries and to create more benefits for cross-strait trade and economic exchanges. President Ma Ying-jeou indicated a few days ago that the possibility of carrying out a dialogue on this issue at the Third Chiang-Chen Talks is not ruled out, but this does not mean that the ECFA is already included as one of the issues for negotiations. MAC Minister Lai Shin-yuan has clearly expressed in several public occasions that there will only be four issues to be negotiated in the third Talks.
■ During the upcoming third Talks between the Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) and the Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Strait (ARATS), the issues on the agenda will be divided into those for negotiations and those for dialogue. The issues for negotiations shall be formally authorized by the government, while it is hoped that the issues for dialogue might become the issues for negotiations at the next Talks after both sides have exchanged preliminary views. When it comes to the ECFA issue, both sides are still at the stage of internal consultations and preparations. Therefore, we hope that both sides can carry out an initial exchange of views at the Third Chiang-Chen Talks, so that a future feasible direction may be found.
Except the four issues that have been authorized for negotiations, contents of the dialogue to be conducted at the third Chiang-Chen Talks have yet to be formulated
QUESTION: The ECFA issue might probably be included as an issue for dialogue or discussions at the third Chiang-Chen Talks. Will this require the authorization of the Mainland Affairs Council? What are the other issues that have been authorized for dialogue and discussion?
DEPUTY MINISTER LIU:
■ At the Chiang-Chen Talks, aside from the issues that will be signed into the agreements or the issues to be discussed between the SEF vice chairmen and the ARATS vice chairmen, the contents on which an exchange of views will be carried out between the SEF chairman and the ARATS chairman shall be submitted first by the relevant competent authorities and the MAC for approval. The talking contents are first determined through administrative procedures before they can be implemented by the SEF. But this is a bit different from the authorization of the issues for negotiations, because the negotiation issues themselves include the complete procedures concerning the text and the proposals, with relevant items being clearly listed therein.
■ As to the contents of the dialogue to be held in the Third Chiang-Chen Talks, the relevant agencies have not yet been able to combine their opinions so that an explanatory statement can be drafted in this regard. These are still ongoing.
Concrete contents of the ECFA are being formulated by the MOEA
QUESTION: The government indicated that with regard to the signing of an ECFA with mainland China, the urgent issues will be addressed first. Could you please elaborate? What are the substantial contents of the ECFA? Moreover, before the discussion of its contents, will a framework agreement be signed first? Will the framework agreement follow the conditions of the ASEAN+1? Will Taiwan have to notify the World Trade Organization of the agreement?
DEPUTY MINISTER LIU:
■ The authority responsible for the ECFA is the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA), so the MOEA is positively collecting the opinions of various sectors for its assessment. Based on the media reports, the MOEA indicated the other day that one of the urgent issues is concerning the petrochemical industry.
■ The scope of the ECFA is broad. It is a kind of framework agreement. As for its contents, the MOEA has recently been also carrying out several forums and public hearings and conducting exchanges and interactions with business operators in the industries, with a view to combining different opinions to forge consensus on the substantial contents of the agreement. Once there are concrete results, we believe that the MOEA will make a public explanation as soon as possible.
QUESTION: The MAC is not in a position to announce the urgent issues related to the ECFA on behalf of the MOEA, but did the Mainland side put forward a concrete proposal on the issues that they consider to be urgent, or on the items that they expect “early results?”
DEPUTY MINISTER LIU: The SEF and the ARATS have not yet communicated on these topics, so that I cannot answer this question now.
It is hoped that consensus will be reached on allowing Mainland capital to invest in Taiwan at the Third Chiang-Chen Talks, but this will not involve the concrete items of deregulation
QUESTION: News reports indicate that the MOEA has formulated the draft of the “Permit Regulations Governing the Investment in Taiwan by People from the Mainland Area” and has submitted it to the Executive Yuan. Have we reached a consensus with mainland China on this policy?
DEPUTY MINISTER LIU:
■ The MOEA has already submitted the draft of the Permit Regulations Governing the Investment in Taiwan by People from the Mainland Area to the Executive Yuan. We will make comments once we have gained further understanding of the contents of the draft regulations.
■ With regard to the issue on allowing Mainland people to invest in Taiwan, we hope that we can reach consensus with the Mainland side in this regard at the Third Chiang-Chen Talks. We will make a public explanation at an appropriate time.
QUESTION: A dialogue will be conducted on the issue concerning the investment in Taiwan by Mainland people during the Third Chiang-Chen Talks. Will both sides discuss the issue of allowing mainland Chinese media agencies to set up offices in Taiwan, as well as address the issue concerning the broadcast of programs from China Central Television and Phoenix TV?
DEPUTY MINISTER LIU: The issue involving Mainland capital investments in Taiwan is complicated. Moreover, during the third Chiang-Chen Talks the issues to be discussed—including Mainland capital investments in Taiwan and bi-directional investments—are issues pertaining to ordinary and basic regulations. No discussions will be held with regard to the concrete items of deregulation. After both sides have established an exchange platform in the future, they will handle the concrete items according to the mutual interaction.
The MAC welcomes more cross-strait media exchanges that help provide more in-depth and comprehensive news coverage
QUESTION: What is the MAC’s stance on “media swap on both sides of the Strait?” Will this issue be taken up for negotiations at the Third Chiang-Chen Talks?
DEPUTY MINISTER LIU:
■ Cross-strait media exchanges have progressed to a significant stage. We welcome more cross-strait media exchanges that help provide more in-depth and comprehensive news coverage, enable more reporters to be stationed in Taiwan by more Mainland media agencies, and allow cross-strait exchanges and visitations to be conducted by more media workers. We hope that through cross-strait media exchanges, the Mainland media workers will acquire a deeper and more comprehensive understanding of Taiwan, so that this can provide them with a more complete foundation for their issuing Taiwan-related news reports.
■ The four issues that have been decided on for negotiations at the Third Chiang-Chen Talks include the cross-strait financial cooperation, the joint cross-strait crime-fighting, the regular flights, and the Mainland capital investments in Taiwan. As to whether the issue on the mutual establishment of resident offices by news agencies on both sides of the Strait will be included into the agenda of the Third Chiang-Chen Talks, there will be room for making efforts so long as both sides across the Strait have a consensus in this regard.
GIO will deliberate on the implementation of the policy to allow Mainland film crew members of drama programs to film dramatic scenes in Taiwan on a trial basis
QUESTION: What is the MAC’s stance on “allowing mainland Chinese film crew members of drama programs to film dramatic scenes in Taiwan?”
DEPUTY MINISTER LIU:
■ With regard to allowing mainland Chinese film crew members of drama programs to shoot drama series in Taiwan, the competent authority is the Government Information Office (GIO). Based on our understanding, the GIO intends to deliberate on the implementation of the policy on a trial basis. Basically, the MAC respects the decision of the GIO.
■ Regarding this policy, some people think that a “trial implementation” is not part of exchange activities, and it will result in problems related to the livelihood and employment of Taiwanese people in the literature and art fields. We believe that the GIO has also heard these opinions. As to the concrete execution plan on the trial implementation, the MAC will continue to understand what progress has been achieved to date by inquiring of the GIO.
Government currently does not have any plan to discuss the possibility of allowing Taiwan’s cars to be driven in mainland China
QUESTION: Why are there rumors recently that Taiwan’s cars will be allowed to be driven in mainland China. Is this legal?
DEPUTY MINISTER LIU: Right now the government has no plans to discuss this issue. These might be the opinions of certain entities or individuals in mainland China. Right now, vehicles can carry double license plates between mainland China, Hong Kong and Macao, and even within mainland China. However, very few countries adopt such a practice. The general practice is to recognize the licenses issued by another country.
Application of personnel involved with national confidential matters to travel to mainland China will be reviewed by a committee headed by MOI
QUESTION: Former vice president Annette Lu has indicated several times that she hopes to visit mainland China. What is the MAC’s opinion? If she travels to mainland China, will she enjoy the same privileges accorded to former vice president Lien Chan when he visited there?
DEPUTY MINISTER LIU:
■ Our current regulations stipulate that with regard to government officials involved with national confidential matters, if they intend to travel to the Mainland Area after they have left their posts for a period of time, the government agencies to which he/she belonged must make the application on his/her behalf. The Ministry of the Interior will then convene the relevant agencies to discuss whether to approve the application or not. The length of time that elapsed since his/her retirement will be determined by the agencies they have served and the related agencies will express their opinions to the Ministry of the Interior.
■ The travels by Taiwan citizens to mainland China for exchanges are beneficial to the enhancement of mutual understanding between both sides of the Strait. Our stance is that there are no restrictions imposed on such exchanges. As for the privileges to be accorded to her, these have to be arranged by the Mainland side. We do not have the relevant stipulations.
Itinerary of ARATS directors and supervisors is being planned by the SEF
QUESTION: What is in the itinerary of the delegation of ARATS directors and supervisors to be headed by ARATS Vice Chairman An Min, who are visiting Taiwan next month?
DEPUTY MINISTER LIU: The SEF and the ARATS achieved a consensus at the First Chiang-Chen Talks to reinforce exchanges between both entities regarding related affairs in addition to the institutionalized negotiations. The visit of the delegation to be headed by ARATS Vice Chairman An Min is part of such exchanges. Their itinerary is now being planned by the SEF. The SEF will make a public briefing after the planning has been completed.
Relevant issues concerning the agenda of the “Cross-Strait Hakka Forum” are being understood by the competent authorities
QUESTION: The Cross-Strait Hakka Forum will be convened at the Grand Hotel the day after tomorrow. It was reported that there will be a seminar discussing the ECFA? Was this seminar included in the initial application? Otherwise, is the holding of such a seminar not in conformity with the application objective?
DEPUTY MINISTER LIU: The competent authorities of such professional exchange activities are the National Immigration Agency and the Council for Hakka Affairs. Based on our understanding, the competent authorities have paid attention to this matter and are now gaining further understanding of it. We believe that once they have a grasp of the situation, they will make a concrete explanation.