Taiwan's parliament Tuesday approved a historic but controversial trade deal with China which is expected to bring the two former rivals closer than ever before. Getting the Taiwanese legislature's approval was seen as crucial in terms of securing legitimacy for the Economic Co-operation Framework Agreement (ECFA) - by far the island's most wide-ranging accord yet with China.
"The ECFA is extremely important to Taiwan if it hopes to avoid being marginalised economically amid an increasing number of trade blocs," said Cheng Ching-ling, a legislator with the pro-China Kuomintang (KMT) party. China is Taiwan's largest trading partner, its largest investment destination, and now also home to a growing number of Taiwanese people. The ECFA was passed with 68 votes for and none against. Members of the anti-China opposition refused to take part in the vote, instead voicing protests, according to an AFP photographer on the scene.
Taiwan's opposition had voiced vehement opposition to ECFA since it was signed in June, but in the end it allowed the deal to pass through the 112-seat parliament after just a day of debate.
The ECFA has been a major priority for Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou of the KMT, who swept to power in 2008 on a vow to improve the island's economy through better ties with China. Approval was never in doubt given the KMT's absolute majority in parliament, but the legislative green light was nevertheless seen as important in order to legitimise the pact.
While seeking domestic backing for the ECFA in the months prior to its signing in June, President Ma repeatedly said that he would seek parliamentary approval for the agreement. The ECFA does not explicitly call on Taiwan and China to get the support of their parliaments, saying simply that they must complete "due process" and then notify each other. When China and Taiwan signed the agreement in June, they said it would take effect "within six months", but they have released no detailed timetable. A group of protesters stripped down to their underwear, saying their protest symbolised Taiwan losing everything to China.
The ECFA has been widely characterised as the boldest step yet towards reconciliation between the former rivals, who split after the end of a civil war in 1949. KMT politicians have hailed the pact, saying it will bolster the island's economy, but the DPP and its allies claim that it will undermine Taiwan's de facto independence.
Although Taiwan and China have been governed separately for more than six decades, Beijing considers the island part of its territory and has vowed to get it back, by force if necessary. Tung Chen-yuan, a China expert at Taipei's National Chengchi University, said the pact will benefit Taiwan rather than China, even though it may not help the island in the short term by as much as the government claims.
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