By Chris Wang / Staff reporter
National Development Council Minister Kuan Chung-min (管中閔) yesterday defended the government’s proposal to establish free economic pilot zones and urged the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) to give the policy a “fair chance” to succeed.
In an open letter published by the Chinese-language Apple Daily yesterday, Kuan challenged the view of DPP Chairperson Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文), who expressed her concern and opposition to the project in a letter published by the same newspaper on Monday.
“The free economic pilot zone project forms only part of the government policies to address Taiwan’s economic stagnation and is founded on two core elements — deregulation and systematic innovation,” Kuan wrote.
The pilot zones will “partially” — not “completely” as Tsai claims — open the market, Kuan said, adding that he disagreed with the “top-down” approach in Tsai’s proposal that the government utilize resources to develop specific “strategic sectors” because the policy would only create short-term benefits.
Kuan denied that the council has “unilaterally” drafted policy recommendations without listening to the voices of businesspeople and the opposition. Instead, the council “has proactively revised its policy recommendations and designs to respond to public concerns,” he said.
Kuan urged the DPP to engage in substantial policy discussion and not to resort to extreme measures, such as occupying the legislative podium, so that both sides are able to communicate with each other.
Responding to Kuan’s comments, DPP spokesman Huang Di-ying (黃帝穎) said the minister did not address concerns over a proliferation of pilot zones.
The council’s position on the issue is inconsistent, Huang said.
Last year, it said the zones would be “designated by the government,” but this year it said it would depend on applications submitted by local governments, Huang said.
Neither did Kuan elaborate on the government’s long-term strategy to develop sectors such as agriculture, medical service and education, and whether incentives for businesses in the zone would be adjusted and phased out with time, Huang said.
Kuan’s emphasis on the government’s role as a “guiding force” rather than a “dictating force” appears vague and does not address the concern of local industries to meet the challenges of globalization and free trade, he said.
The DPP has yet to see any policy revisions by the council, Huang said, adding that the only thing the DPP has seen is the council’s persistent smear campaign against the party and civic groups.