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Bloomberg

Taiwan’s premier has said he isn’t opposed to stronger economic ties with mainland China, even as the administration looks to boost its trade links with the US and Southeast Asia.
Mainland China is a big market and many industries across the strait complement each other, Lin Chuan, 65, said in his first interview with foreign media since he was sworn in almost a year ago. “We shouldn’t push it away,“ Lin said at his offices in Taipei on May 5.
“As it is a huge market over there in mainland China, it behooves Taiwan to maintain friendly, smooth economic relations,” Lin said. “In doing that, there’s no downside for Taiwan.”
“So as far as trade and the division of labour are concerned, the cross-strait economic relationship isn’t something that should be avoided,” Lin said.
The cabinet chief’s comments come as Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen proposes a new model for cross-strait relations with a focus on structural cooperation.
Civilian group from mainland China to take more prominent role in cross-strait affairs
Some lawmakers in Tsai’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party criticised her predecessor for a perceived overreliance on the mainland, which accounted for as much as 41.8 per cent of the island’s exports during Ma Ying-jeou’s tenure.
Lin’s portfolio includes the economy, but relations with the mainland are overseen by Tsai.
Lin said Taiwan also wants to foster trade links with other nations to reduce domestic anxiety over a dependence on mainland China. Beijing’s opposition to such moves could hurt ties, he added.
Alexander Huang, the chairman of the Taipei-based Council on Strategic & Wargaming Studies, said Chuan’s comments showed he was addressing the realities facing Taiwan.
“The high reliance results from the choice of businesses like Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co and Foxconn Technology Group, instead of governments,” he said.
Tensions between the diplomatically-isolated Taiwan and the mainland have been elevated since Tsai’s pro-independence DPP swept the Beijing-friendly Kuomintang from power last year. Tsai, who has angered Beijing by refusing to endorse the “one-China” principle, has sought to bolster the island’s military and reduce its trade dependence on the mainland.
Free-trade deals are necessary for a small, open economy like Taiwan, Lin said. “We will adopt low-key and pragmatic measures to establish better economic relations with other countries,” said the former finance minister and statistics bureau chief.
Lin said a US free-trade pact could help enhance the competitiveness of Taiwanese products, although he added it would depend on US interest in having such talks. Taipei could also seek discussions with the European Union, he said.
Tsai said in March that Taiwan and the US should engage in talks on trade as a matter of priority. “Both sides should have frank and substantive discussions and work toward a new bilateral trade agreement,” she said.
Ongoing talks under the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement will provide a forum to discuss related issues, American Institute in Taiwan Director Kin Moy said in March.
Why Tsai is giving Taiwan’s arms industry a boost
Tsai’s administration is also seeking closer ties with Australia, New Zealand, the 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and six South Asian countries. In the June-March period, inbound visitors from these areas surged 23 per cent on-year to 1.63 million, according to a cabinet statement.
Still, “[Mainland] China will see this as not just an economic issue, but a political one,” Lin said, adding “that’s regrettable for us.”
“[Mainland] China should think these things through more clearly,” he said. “If Taiwan establishes better economic ties with other countries, it’s not just good for Taiwan, it’s good for economic ties across the strait.“
Diversified economic relations could help counter domestic objections to economic links with Beijing, Lin said. “Only when Taiwan has better economic relationships with other countries can Taiwan and [mainland] China share closer economic ties and more opportunities,” he said.


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Taiwan

Taiwan wants `friendly' China ties amid tilt to Southeast Asia, says premier

Taiwan’s Premier Lin Chuan. Photo: Bloomberg

REFILE - QUALITY REPEAT Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen speaks during an interview with Reuters at the Presidential Office in Taipei, Taiwan April 27, 2017. REUTERS/Tyrone Siu

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Taipei’s push to expand trade links beyond the mainland will benefit cross-strait relations, says Lin Chuan


Taiwan wants `friendly' China ties amid tilt to Southeast Asia, says premier

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Taipei’s push to expand trade links beyond the mainland will benefit cross-strait relations, says Lin Chuan

Taipei’s push to expand trade links beyond the mainland will benefit cross-strait relations, says Lin Chuan