TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) spokesperson Chang Chih-hao criticized on Wednesday (Nov. 29) the proposal to revive the Cross-Strait Service Trade Agreement (CSSTA), labeling it as potentially harmful to Taiwan's national interests.
Representing the ruling party, Chang described the CSSTA as an outdated agreement from a decade ago that could jeopardize Taiwan's interests.
His statement responded directly to calls from Kuomintang (KMT) presidential candidate Hou Yu-ih and Taiwan People's Party (TPP) candidate Ko Wen-je to reopen the service trade pact with China. Chang denounced the economic and trade policies of former President Ma Ying-jeou's era as overly focused on China, resulting in an "unhealthy cross-strait economic and trade environment."
Chang argued that these policies led to the distorted development of Taiwan's industries, excessive reliance on China for agricultural and fisheries products, and an over-concentration of economic benefits.
He warned that reinstating the CSSTA could affect at least 10 major industries in Taiwan, potentially impacting around 4 million jobs and driving down salary levels.
Chang also highlighted Taiwan's recent economic successes, including the Taiwan stock market's weighted index surpassing Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index. He contrasted this with China's rising youth unemployment rate, which exceeds 20%, affecting over 25 million people.
While the DPP supports orderly and healthy exchanges across the strait, Chang insisted that economic exchanges should not have political motives or conduct unfair trade. He emphasized the need for balance and risk management in cross-strait economic and trade exchanges and stressed the importance of comprehensive communication with society when facing China's economic coercion.