President Ma Ying-jeou should come up with a well-devised format if he is sincere in suggesting holding a public debate on his administration’s controversial plan to sign a free trade pact with China, an opposition leader said on Sunday.

“If President Ma indeed sees the need for a debate on the proposed economic cooperation framework agreement (ECFA) deal with Beijing, he should flesh out a detailed plan instead of merely floating the idea to news media,” said Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Chairwoman Tsai Ing-wen.

Stressing that the government is obliged to keep the public informed of the government’s policy plans and work agenda, Tsai said prior to her departure for a visit to Japan that she hopes the ECFA debate idea will not turn out to be “just another of Ma’s political teases.”

On several previous occasions, Tsai contended, Ma also offered to meet or debate her on major policy issues.

“However, those offers just left me feeling like I was being used … This time around, I hope the president is not playing us any more,” Tsai said.

Ma has touted the urgency of striking an ECFA deal with China to protect Taiwan from being marginalized after a free trade area agreement between China and the Association of Southeast Asia Nations (ASEAN) takes effect at the start of next year.

Some political analysts attributed the ruling Kuomintang’s showing in the December 5 local elections partly to public discontent with the government’s ECFA proposal, and Ma, who doubles as KMT chairman, decided to become more visible publicly on the issue.

More Info: http://www.taiwanheadlines.gov.tw/ct.asp?xItem=173989&CtNode=39