Taiwans parliament Monday adopted a resolution insisting that a proposed trade pact with China be apolitical and not sacrifice the islands economic sovereignty.Opposition and ruling party parliamentarians agreed that if Taiwan were to sign a trade agreement with China, it must not include political terms, parliament officials said.
"The (proposed) Economic Co-operation Framework Agreement must not mention Taiwans status in relations with China, like the one China principle, and 1992 consensus," parliamentarian Lo Ming-tsai cited part of the resolution as saying.
Taiwan and China have been rivals since the two sides split at the end of a civil war in 1949, but Beijing still considers Taiwan an inseparable part of China. It has also demanded that its allies accept the so-called "one-China" principle. In 1992, the two sides reached a consensus to improve relations by temporarily setting aside political disputes for pragmatic, economic co-operation. That document said both sides adopted the principle that "there is only one China, but each has its own interpretation of what that China stands for."
Pro-independence presidents Lee Teng-hui and Chen Shui-bian later refused to recognise that consensus, souring cross-strait relations until China-friendly President Ma Ying-jeou took office in May. Ma is pushing for a trade pact to be signed by mid-year 2010. Pro-independence opposition parties strongly oppose a trade deal with the mainland, fearing it would lead to final reunification.
The resolution adopted by parliament Monday also insists that the Ma government refrain from giving up Taiwans economic sovereignty, including its rights to initiate anti-dumping and anti-subsidy measures to counter China.