On protests against the Cross-Strait Agreement on Trade in Services (TiSA)

The government of the Republic of China (Taiwan) affirms the concern shown by students and the public for national affairs, specifically the Cross-Strait Agreement on Trade in Services (TiSA), and supports the expression of opinions through democratic and peaceful means. The government is willing to engage in democratic and rational dialogue with those holding different views, but cannot accept the student occupation of the Legislative Yuan in a demand for dialogue.

The ROC (Taiwan) is a democratic nation governed by the rule of law. The TiSA is now under review by the Legislative Yuan. The differing opinions of the ruling and opposition parties, as well as of different segments of society, should be worked out through the normal procedures of the Legislative Yuan until consensus is reached. As the present controversy over the TiSA stems from a procedural dispute between the ruling and opposition party caucuses, the key to its resolution is the prompt reinstatement of legislative operations and guarantee of constitutional order. The Legislative Yuan’s internal negotiation mechanism can bring the dispute to a peaceful end. The results of legislative review are not something that the president nor the Executive Yuan can control.