Shutdown of cross-Straits framework 'a step back'

The shutdown of the team leading the Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement in Taiwan has raised concerns about cross-Straits relations among the island's business community, the Chinese mainland Taiwan affairs spokesman said on Wednesday.

"The shutdown has attracted a lot of attention on the island, which echoes concerns about cross-Straits relations and the future among the business community in Taiwan," said An Fengshan, spokesman for the State Council's Taiwan Affairs Office.

The framework, signed in 2010, aims to promote cross-Straits economic cooperation by reducing tariffs and commercial barriers.

"On the common political basis of upholding the 1992 Consensus and opposing separation, the mainland and Taiwan have signed 23 articles, including the ECFA, since 2008, enhancing communication in many fields across the Straits and also bringing benefits to people from both sides," he said, criticizing Taiwan authorities for breaking the common political basis.

"It (the refusal to recognize the one-China principle) leads to stagnating communication and negotiation mechanisms between Taiwan and the mainland, which also affects the implementation of the agreement. It hurts people from both sides, particularly Taiwan's business people," he said.

"The ECFA team's shutdown is a step back for cross-Straits relations," said Wang Hailiang, a researcher of Taiwan studies at the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences.

The shutdown shows that the island's incumbent administration has sacrificed the benefits of business people for their political aims to further separate from the mainland, Wang said.

"The ECFA is one of the most important agreements for boosting cross-Straits economic development," he added.

In March 2015, the Taiwan Affairs Office said the agreement had made remarkable achievements by promoting cross-Straits trade, industry and customs cooperation.

By that time, the mainland had offered tariff exemptions totaling 14.1 billion yuan ($2.3 billion) on Taiwan merchandise, while Taiwan had given tariff reductions of $240 million on mainland goods, according to the office.

luowangshu@chinadaily.com.cn