We Applaud the Taipei Singapore FTA

We Applaud the Taipei Singapore FTAChina Times editorial (Taipei, Taiwan, ROC)
A Translation
August 6, 2010

On August 5, Taipei and Singapore announced the commencement of economic cooperation negotiations under the World Trade Organization (WTO) framework. The move underscored a strong desire for such an agreement by both sides, and officially kicked off the negotiation process. Soon after Taipei and Beijing signed ECFA, President Ma personally led a campaign to sign free trade agreements (FTAs). That such good news would arrive so soon, has left the public surprised and excited.

According to the press release, Taipei will be known by the name, "Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu," in accordance with WTO conventions. The name will be abbreviated as "Chinese Taipei." Taipei and Singapore will sign an agreement promoting economic cooperation. In fact WTO expressly requires members to permit other members to sign trade agreements consistent with WTO norms. Taipei and Singapore are both WTO members. As a WTO member, Taipei already had a basis by which it could expand bilateral interaction with Singapore. This includes signing economic cooperation agreements. Because we already had an existing framework, the expansion of relations was merely a matter of form, and obstacles were kept to a minimum.

Following this formal declaration of intent, government agencies in Taipei and Singapore will hold step by step discussions, and eventually arrive at specific agreements regarding cooperation. The agreement may not use the term "FTA." But it will lower trade barriers and promote economic exchanges. This is entirely consistent with the purpose of an FTA. An FTA can go by many names, and include many different provisions. Substantively speaking, the economic partnership agreement between Taipei and Singapore will be an FTA.

This development is highly encouraging. It will benefit Taipei in many ways. First of all, Taipei has signed FTAs with only a handeful of governments -- those with which it maintains diplomatic relations. But the volume of trade is too small. The political symbolism is more important than the economic benefits. This is not the case with Singapore. It is one of Asia's Four Little Dragons. Its economic success is the envy of the world. It is a member of ASEAN. It has close economic and trade ties with India. Singapore's industries and Taiwan's industries are not in direct competition with each other, but instead complement each other. An economic cooperation agreement between Taipei and Singapore can create more trade opportunities on Taiwan. It can create opportunities for Taiwan businesses in India and ASEAN, by way of Singapore.

In addition to significant economic and trade benefits, the Taipei Singapore FTA will establish a model to be emulated. Many governments would like to sign FTAs with Taipei. But in the past, although these governments were under the aegis of the WTO, they gave up on the idea because they feared opposition from Beijing. Now however, Taipei and Beijing have been reconciled. Taipei and Beijing have themselves signed ECFA. Singapore may be small, but it is an economically important trading nation. It has always been extremely careful and thorough in its decision-making. It has never acted recklessly or in haste. Its willingness to formally negotiate an economic cooperation agreement with Taipei means that it has already given the matter much thought and communicated with Taipei at great length. This will of course positively influence other governments. For Taipei, which longs to break out of its isolation and to avoid marginalization, this is significant indeed.

This breakthrough may have positive implications for cross-Strait relations and internal politics on Taiwan. Cross-Strait relations have recovered rapidly since President Ma took office. But some on Taiwan have always doubted Beijing's sincerity. The Green Camp has long alleged that Beijing's accomodations were merely ploys to make Taiwan increasingly dependent on the Mainland. Beijing's willingnes to allow Taipei to sign FTAs with other governments will be a concrete indicator of its sincerity. President Ma has personally led the way on signing FTAs. Therefore Beijing will have to issue some sort of statement in response.

Taiwan Affairs Office Director Wang Yi Jun said Beijing understands Taipei's need to establish economic relations with other governments. Under the general framework of peaceful development, the two sides should be able to find a solution. Beijing should offer Taipei "fair and reasonable treatment, pragmatic and appropriate handling." Such open goodwill is unprecedented. But will words be followed by deeds? Taipei must "listen to his words, and look at his deeds." Taipei and Singapore have begun negotiating an economic cooperation agreement. They have confirmed indirectly that Beijing's bottom line has changed.

When Taipei has sufficient room to survive in the international community, it will no longer feel such a powerful sense of insecurity. It will have fewer doubts and fears when dealing with Beijing. An FTA with Singapore is the first positive result. This will discredit obstinate opponents of ECFA. It will encourage the public on Taiwan to adopt a more pragmatic attitude towards the Mainland, and to improve relations with the Mainland. It will generate increased public support for cross-Strait reconciliation.

In the past, when Singapore expressed a desire to sign an FTA with Taipei, the Chen Shui-bian regime insisted on the name "Taiwan." This, plus firm opposition from Beijing, forced Singapore to give up on the idea. Now Taipei and Singapore have resumed negotiations. One reason is that the Ma administration adopted a pragmatic strategy, a viable model able to overcome the dispute over names. It is creating new forms of cross-Strait interaction, enabling Taipei more room for survival and growth. Which is the right way to defend one's national interests, and to care for the people? The answer is clear. President Ma has achieved a previously unimagineable breakthrough. For this he deserves public acclaim, We hope the government will persist in its efforts, and continue to achieve positive results.

台星洽簽FTA 值得掌聲肯定
中國時報
2010-08-06

台灣與新加坡五日同步宣布，雙方同意在世界貿易組織（ＷＴＯ）的架構下，展開洽簽經濟合作協議之磋商。這項動作，不僅揭示雙方對簽署協議之積極意願，也宣告談判程序正式啟動。兩岸簽署ＥＣＦＡ之後，馬總統親自領軍推動簽署自由貿易協定（ＦＴＡ），在這麼快的時間內就傳來好消息，實在令國人深感驚喜與振奮。

根據雙方的新聞稿，台灣將以在ＷＴＯ的名稱「台澎金馬個別關稅領域」（簡稱中華台北，Chinese Taipei），與新加坡推動經濟合作協議之簽署。事實上，ＷＴＯ明文規定其會員享有與其他會員簽署符合ＷＴＯ規範貿易協定之權利，我國與新加坡同為ＷＴＯ會員，以我國參與ＷＴＯ的模式為雙方進一步互動的基礎，包括洽簽經濟合作協議。因為已經有了一個現成的操作共識架構，據以進一步發展關係可謂水到渠成，可以把困難降到最低。

在正式宣布意向之後，台星相關部門將按部就班展開磋商，最後落實為具體合作協議，雖然名稱未必是ＦＴＡ，但降低貿易壁壘、促進交流的宗旨卻是一致的。ＦＴＡ的名稱與內容可以非常多樣，實質上，台星要展開磋商的經濟合作協議，便是一種ＦＴＡ。

這項發展之所以令人振奮，是因為它將為台灣帶來許多正面利益。首先，台灣現在只和少數邦交國簽署ＦＴＡ，但彼此的貿易額太小，政治的象徵意義還大於實際經濟效益。而新加坡不然，它是亞洲四小龍之一，經貿成就傲視全球，既是東協的成員國，與印度也有相當緊密的經貿關係。加上新加坡的產業與台灣互補性強，沒有非常強烈的直接競爭，台星若能簽署經濟合作協議，不僅讓台灣增加更多貿易商機，也能經由新加坡尋找進入東協與印度市場的機會。

除了實質的經貿利益外，台星洽簽ＦＴＡ也將帶來示範效益。許多國家原本有意和我國簽署ＦＴＡ，但過去即使是依據ＷＴＯ的架構，也因為忌憚中國的反對而作罷。現在兩岸關係趨於和解，中國本身都和台灣簽署了ＥＣＦＡ，新加坡雖然幅員小，在經貿方面卻是重要國家，而且決策向來慎重周延，從不魯莽草率，它願意採取積極態度，正式展開與台灣洽簽經濟合作協議，必然已經作好評估與溝通，這對其他國家當然會產生示範效果。對一直渴望打破孤立處境以免被邊緣化的台灣，意義格外重大。

此外，對於兩岸關係及台灣內部，這項突破也可以帶來正面意義。雖說在馬總統上台後，兩岸關係迅速從谷底回升，但中國的善意裡有多少誠意，台灣內部始終存有疑慮，綠營也不斷質疑各種籠絡手段只是為了讓台灣更依賴中國。因此，是否在外交休兵之後，中國願意進一步改變過去堅決反對台灣與其他國家簽署ＦＴＡ的立場，就是一個具體的評估指標。而馬總統也以親自推動洽簽ＦＴＡ，讓中國必須對這個議題有所表態。

國台辦主任王毅六月時表示，大陸對台灣出於經濟發展需要，與其他國家建立經濟關係，是可以理解的；在和平發展大方向下，應可找到解決之道，大陸方面應會「合情合理對待，務實妥善處理」，這種開放的善意態度前所未見，但口惠是否能實至，台灣仍然要「聽其言，觀其行」。現在台星展開經濟合作協議磋商，間接證實了中國的思維及政策底線確實有所調整。

當台灣能夠在國際社會找到更多生存空間時，就不會有那麼強的不安全感，也更能降低與中國交往時的疑懼。如今洽簽ＦＴＡ有了第一個好成果，這不僅將讓抵死反對ＥＣＦＡ的聲音失去正當性，也能鼓勵台灣內部主張與中國改善關係的務實路線，為兩岸和解營造更多社會支持。

過去新加坡表達有意與我國簽署ＦＴＡ時，扁政府堅持要以「台灣」為名，加上中國又堅決反對，星方於是作罷。如今雙方能夠重啟協商，一方面是因為馬政府採取務實策略，以可行的模式克服了名稱爭議，一方面是藉由開創新的兩岸互動，為台灣找到新的生存發展空間。那種方式才是真正在捍衛國家利益、照顧民眾福祉，答案顯然很清楚了。馬總統達到了過去不敢想像的對外突破，值得全國民眾的掌聲肯定，也希望政府能再接再厲，繼續交出好成績。