Bill Titled “Statute Governing the Supervision of Cross-Strait Agreements”: A Leash Without a Dog

  Bill Titled “Statute Governing the Supervision of Cross-Strait Agreements”: A Leash Without a Dog

United Daily News Editorial (Taipei, Taiwan, ROC)

February 7, 2017

 Translation of an Except

When President Tsai Ying-wen attended the New Year’s party for the Association of Taiwan Enterprises on the Mainland hosted by the Straits Exchange Foundation, she addressed a group of people she felt most difficult to face, and urged them to return to Taiwan for investment. During the party, Tsai Ing-wen reportedly floated an idea that in the "second half of the year" she would propose a new cross-Strait policy. However, the message did not come from her mouth; it is difficult to say whether it is true or not. Rather, Lin Bofeng  (林柏豐), chairman of the Chinese National Association of Industry and Commerce, Taiwan, proposed at the party that the government should accelerate the review process of the bill titled “Statute Governing the Supervision of Cross-Strait Agreements” in the legislature. It was reported that Tsai Ing-wen nodded her head to show that she attached importance to this proposal.

At this moment in time, the business circle mentioned again the “Statute Governing the Supervision of Cross-Strait Agreements.” One cannot help but feel the irony. In fact, when Tsai Ing-wen nodded her head in response, it probably didn’t mean that she attached importance to this proposal or signify agreement, but rather either she had nothing to say or more likely showed her astonishment. The real question is, as President, now that she led cross-Strait relations to this stage, has she done any deep thinking on the long-term development of the nation and the feelings of the people? As to the timetable she presented, is there any rationale?

In such a cross-Strait predicament, there are figures in the business community who still worry that the legislative action on the “Statute Governing the Supervision of Cross-Strait Agreements” should be accelerated as soon as possible. This somehow touched many people. However, wouldn’t it be funny for a person who does not even think of raising a dog to hold a dog leash in his hand without a dog?

Attachment : none