President Ma Ying-jeou on the morning of August 4 met with a delegation of experts in cross-strait relations from the University of Tokyo's Institute for Advanced Studies on Asia. In addition to discussing philosophies of governance, the president and the visitors also exchanged opinions on cross-strait relations and the international situation.
The president remarked that cross-strait relations have reached a critical juncture. After taking office he sought actively to resume cross-strait talks, and his efforts have brought the signing of 14 agreements addressing such matters as direct cross-strait postal, transportation, and trade links, the opening of Taiwan to mainland Chinese tourists, food safety, mutual judicial assistance, the hiring of fishing boat crews, reduction and elimination of tariffs, trade in services, and protection of intellectual property rights. Of these agreements, the cross-strait Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA) will have an especially significant impact, as it will promote Taiwan's internationalization and keep Taiwan from being marginalized, while at the same time normalizing cross-strait trade.
President Ma said it is particularly important that the ECFA does not open Taiwan's doors to mainland Chinese laborers or increase the number of mainland Chinese agricultural products allowed into Taiwan. In addition, he said that 17 traditional industrial sectors here that could be at a competitive disadvantage were excluded from the early harvest list. The two sides have achieved a big breakthrough in the area of intellectual property rights protection by agreeing to recognize priority rights arising from IP filings in each other's jurisdiction. The president explained that the ROC's sovereignty and dignity were not damaged at all during negotiations, and stressed that the government has constantly emphasized that the ECFA must focus on the needs of the nation, enjoy the support of the people, and be subject to oversight by the legislature. While the ECFA is not a treaty, it is similar in many respects to one, and he hopes the Legislative Yuan at an extraordinary session in the middle of August will complete its review of the ECFA. He said he has no objection if the legislators wish to discuss the provisions one by one, but he hopes to have a simple up-or-down vote on the agreement in its entirety or attach auxiliary resolutions. He said that the ECFA will enable cross-strait trade and economic relations to develop normally and lead to further development of Taiwan's economy.
President Ma said that the signing of the ECFA is only a first step, and that the two sides still need to discuss many other issues, including a dispute resolution mechanism. Taiwan, he said, needs to maximize opportunities while minimizing risks. During an address last May marking the second anniversary of his inauguration, for instance, he unveiled his concept of a golden decade for Taiwan, the goal of which is to eliminate external risks, thereby enabling the nation to operate in a peaceful external environment. He reiterated the stances he made at the time of his inauguration of "no unification, no independence, and no use of force," as well as "putting Taiwan first for the benefit of the people," saying that he will lead Taiwan ahead based on these principles.
The guests included Waseda University Professor Masahiro Wakabayashi and University of Tokyo Executive Vice President Akihiko Tanaka. They were accompanied to the Presidential Office in the morning by Vice Minister of Economic Affairs Hwang Jung-chiou and Mainland Affairs Council Deputy Minister Kao Charng to meet President Ma. Also attending the meeting was National Security Council Advisor Lee Chia-chin.