In response to media queries on Taiwan President-elect Dr Ma Ying-jeou's announcement to resume FTA negotiations with Singapore, the MFA Spokesman said
"FTAs with customs territories such as Taiwan are permissible under WTO rules. There were some preliminary discussions in 2001, but they ceased when the Chen Shui-bian administration tried to go beyond the WTO framework and politicised the issue. There have been no discussions since then. Furthermore, many developments under the Chen Shui-bian administration have since caused serious strains in cross-strait relations. But Dr Ma Ying-jeou has recently proposed that Taiwan and China discuss an FTA. China has not rejected this. If Taiwan and the Mainland are able to make progress on an FTA and cross-strait relations improve, there will be many possibilities for enhanced economic cooperation between Singapore and Taiwan, provided that economic matters are not politicised."
. . . . .
MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
SINGAPORE
28 MARCH 2008