TAIPEI: Taiwan's top trade official has challenged critics of a proposed trade pact with the mainland to debate the issue in a public forum.

"I am willing to face anyone who is interested in or skeptical about the planned economic cooperation framework agreement in a public debate," Huang Chih-peng, who is in charge of external trade affairs under the economic affairs authorities, said yesterday.

In an interview with the Central News Agency, the leading trade negotiator with the mainland said Taiwan is suffering a "rain of fists" in the international arena, which gives it no option but to seek such an agreement with the mainland.

"I am worried sick about Taiwan's future," said Huang, who insists Taiwan will be hurt economically when the free trade zone set up by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the mainland takes effect on January 1 next year.

Its situation will further deteriorate when Japan and South Korea are incorporated into the bloc sometime before 2018, the official said.

Huang said he was willing to square off with critics in a public debate a day after economics chief Shih Yen-shiang said his office was mulling the possibility of staging televised debates on the issue.

As it stands, the economic affairs authorities and Council of Labor Affairs (CLA) will organize 25 public forums to brief business and industrial groups as well as the general public around the island on the issue before February of next year, Huang said.

The trade official acknowledged that while the agreement will benefit Taiwan in general, the government is concerned about the potential negative impact the deal could have on some sectors of the economy, and he said those consequences should be clearly explained publicly.

Meanwhile, the Taichung City government denied reports that it has advised businesses to suspend operations during the talks between Taiwan and the mainland that will take place later this month in the city.

According to Taichung Deputy Mayor Hsiao Chia-chi, although police are planning to set up a restricted zone covering a 50-meter radius from the venue to facilitate security, all businesses and schools located in the area will operate as usual.

The fourth round of talks between the chief cross-strait negotiators - Taipei-based Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) Chairman Chiang Pin-kung and Beijing-based Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS) President Chen Yunlin - is likely to be held at the Windsor Hotel Taichung.

With pro-independence groups led by the opposition Democratic Progressive Party having announced their plans to hold protests during the event, the Chinese-language Liberty Times reported yesterday that in anticipation of possible disorder and riots, the city's police have advised businesses located near the venue to suspend operations to ensure their security.

Yu Hui-mao, deputy director-general of the Taichung City Police Bureau, clarified that police have informed local businesses of possible situations that could occur but has not asked them to suspend operations.

Pointing out that Zhonggang Road, where the Windsor Hotel is located, is one of the city's busiest roads, Yu said the police are responsible for adopting proper measures to protect the rights of road users and local residents.

It is also the police department's responsibility to provide the public with the necessary information to help them better prepare for possible scenarios, he said.

China Daily/CNA

(HK Edition 12/09/2009 page2)