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TAIPEI : Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou on Tuesday defended a proposed controversial trade agreement with China, saying the self-ruled island faced isolation without it.
Taiwan's China-friendly administration hopes the pact, the Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement, could spur growth and boost employment by easing barriers.
But the opposition Democratic Progressive Party, which favours independence from China, strongly opposes the deal, which it says would demote Taiwan to the status of a local government in future talks with the mainland.
Taiwan and China split in 1949 after a civil war but Beijing still sees the island as part of its territory awaiting reunification, by force if necessary.
"Without the agreement, Taiwan, already politically isolated in the international community, would be isolated economically," Ma said while addressing a gathering of the American Chamber of Commerce in Taipei.
He said Taiwan's industries and businesses would be unable to compete with their competitors overseas which are free of tariffs.
"The agreement is very important to Taiwan's survival," Ma said.
Taiwan and China held their first round of formal talks in late January in Beijing to decide on an agenda for the pact and other procedural issues.
Premier Wu Den-yih said Tuesday he expects the second round of talks to be held in Taipei on March 23.
- AFP /ls
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