Chang prioritizes ROC Cabinet policy agenda

2016/02/01

The ROC Cabinet’s agenda for its final 109 days before the change of government May 20 was recently elaborated on by incoming Premier Chang San-cheng.

“We will maintain the Cabinet’s course on the implementation of key policies,” Chang said during several interviews with the local media. In particular, “negotiations on the cross-strait trade in goods agreement must proceed on schedule as the importance of the pact to Taiwan cannot be overstated.

“It is imperative that the channels of cross-strait communication remain open. Otherwise, all our previous efforts will be in vain.”

According to Chang, discussions with Beijing on the trade pact are in favor of Taiwan, with better terms for sectors such as display panels than the ones enjoyed by South Korea in the Northeast Asian country’s free trade agreement with mainland China.

While details of the negotiations cannot be disclosed to the public, Chang said the Cabinet will keep the new government fully briefed on related developments

Chang said the attitude of the new Legislature is also set to play a key role in the process, adding that the Cabinet will comply with the cross-strait agreement supervisory act if it clears the floor during the session.

Other policies high on the Cabinet agenda include Taiwan’s bid for participation in the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and Trans-Pacific Partnership.

Chang said the government maintains its stance that Taiwan joins the AIIB under the name of Chinese Taipei, and that relevant ministries will propose the regulatory amendments by the end of March as planned so that the country’s legal environment can meet the TPP’s high standards.

President-elect Tsai Ing-wen should continue these policies, Chang said, adding that the government’s difficulties in implementing the securities gains taxes and 12-year mandatory education serve as valuable reference to the opposition Democratic Progressive Party when it assumes power in May.

Chang was named Jan. 25 to replace Mao Chi-kuo as head of the Cabinet after the latter resigned Jan. 16 following the ruling Kuomintang’s loss in the presidential and legislative elections held the same day. He will be sworn in Feb. 1 in tandem with the new Legislature.

Source: Taiwan Today (http://taiwantoday.tw/ct.asp?xItem=241869&ctNode=2194&mp=9)