Despite protests in Taiwan, trade deal with China likely to proceed
Student protests in Taipei against a new services trade agreement with Beijing are getting lots of headlines this week.
But they aren鈥檛 likely to scuttle the deal.
While President Ma Ying-jeou鈥檚 efforts to deepen ties between Taiwan and mainland China are contentious, the protests, including an occupation of the parliament,聽also聽highlight public discontent with his domestic policies and his governing style, says our correspondent on the ground in Taipei.
The protests stem from 鈥渁n accumulation of frustrations about domestic issues, it鈥檚 not just China,鈥� our correspondent notes. People feel 鈥渢oo many things are happening without the public review and public explanation that people want.鈥�
The agreement itself, signed last July, would liberalize trade in services between Taiwan and China. That holds promise but also potential peril for smaller Taiwanese firms.... For the rest of the story, continue reading at our new business publication聽
