TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Kuomintang (KMT) presidential contender Hou Yu-ih criticized the ruling Democratic Progressive Party's (DPP's) past claims that the Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA) was a sugar-coated poison pill in a policy presentation on Tuesday (Dec. 26).
Hou questioned DPP presidential candidate Lai Ching-te’s previous claims that cross-strait communication, "three links," and direct flights were akin to a "Trojan horse leading to a massacre" — rhetorically asking which Taiwanese city had been massacred.
Hou argued that unresolved quarantine issues regarding cross-strait relations could cause severe difficulties for Taiwanese farmers. He suggested local governments may have to negotiate with China directly.
The KMT candidate also challenged Agriculture Minister Chen Chi-chung's role in recent Chinese approvals for Taiwan's grouper fish export, questioning whether Chen was in harmony with Beijing.
Hou stated the Tsai government's reliance on the ECFA — which it dared not abandon — was not an effective solution to their "Trojan horse" concerns about direct flights from China.
He went on to criticize Lai's "Taiwan independence" stance, arguing that it demonstrated a lack of practical understanding of cross-straight relations.
If elected, Hou pledged to continue the ECFA negotiations to reduce the impact of China's tariffs on Taiwan's industries.
Hou said that so long as Taiwan abided by the Constitution of the Republic of China and the Act Governing Relations between the People of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area, peace between the straits could be maintained.