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TAIPEI - TAIWAN will pursue a comprehensive economic cooperation pact with China, and at the same time try to seal free trade agreements (FTAs) with other countries, including Singapore.
President-elect Ma Ying-jeou yesterday acknowledged that opposition from the Chinese side had led to the stalling of talks with Singapore.
'As long as Singapore agrees, we should start as soon as possible,' he said in a wide-ranging interview with the Singapore media yesterday.
FTA talks between both sides began soon after Taiwanese President Chen Shui-bian was elected in 2000.
But talks were stalled after Mr Chen insisted on signing the agreement under the sensitive title 'Taiwan', said Mr Ma.
'On the one hand, there was the title problem. On the other hand, there was opposition from the Chinese side. So talks were stalled.'
Taiwan has been shut out of the growing web of FTAs because of its diplomatic isolation. The island has official ties with only a handful of allies.
It had initially hoped to strengthen trade ties with other countries under the World Trade Organisation (WTO).
'But in the past few years, multilateral negotiations have not proceeded smoothly, so countries are returning to bilateral FTAs,' said Mr Ma.
'This is not good for Taiwan. Because our bilateral relations are affected by diplomatic isolation, we can't sign agreements with those with no official ties.'
Hoping to work around the problem, Mr Ma said he would concurrently pursue a comprehensive economic cooperation agreement with China.
'We certainly hope we can achieve some results in our relations with the mainland so that Singapore can be rest assured that our FTA negotiations will not hurt its relations with the mainland,' he said.
Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs had said in a statement on March28: 'If Taiwan and the mainland are able to make progress on an FTA and cross-strait relations improve, there will be many possibilities for enhanced economic cooperation between Singapore and Taiwan, provided that economic matters are not politicised.'
Mr Ma also said yesterday that his administration would be flexible in terms of the title it uses to sign the deal.
'We can accept any other names as long as they are feasible and won't undermine Taiwan's dignity. Substance is more important than formality,' he said.
One possible option would be to adopt the name Taiwan used to join the WTO - Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu. The name has since been shortened. 'In the WTO, the name now commonly used is Chinese Taipei,' he said.
Mr Ma expressed hopes that an FTA with Singapore could pave the way for similar pacts with other Asean members.
For years, he has also advocated that Taiwan be made the fourth dialogue partner with the 10-member grouping, alongside China, Japan and South Korea.
The President-elect is also eager to expedite FTA talks with the US. Taiwan's ties with the US would not suffer at the expense of a cross-strait rapprochement, he stressed.
'The presidential election created a rare opportunity for the US to maintain cordial ties with both sides of the Taiwan Strait,' said Mr Ma, who has expressed his wish to visit Washington.
Still, he concedes that he faces an uphill task in trying to expand Taiwan's FTA partners.
'I won't say I am optimistic about sealing FTAs with other countries. But I think all nations will welcome a peaceful and not troublemaking Taiwan,' he said.
hwee@sph.com.sg
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