The government has drafted a mechanism that will increase dialogue with the legislature and public about cross-strait agreements. That’s after recent mass public protests over the way the cross-strait trade in services agreement was handled in the legislature. The ruling party tried to pass the trade in services agreement in the legislature without a clause-by-clause review.
The government’s draft law will have a four stage communication mechanism for cross-strait agreements. This will strengthen government dialogue with the legislature and public.
The government is planning to hold more public hearings, panel discussions and Internet forums to promote discussion on and understanding of cross-strait agreements. There were many such forums before signing the Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA) in 2010, but much fewer regarding the trade in services agreement that was signed last June.