Mainland spokesman: Taiwan-US trade deal sells out Taiwan

A Chinese mainland spokesman criticized the trade pact reached between Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party authorities and the United States on Thursday, calling it a "list of tributes" that sells out and harms Taiwan.

Chen Binhua, a spokesman for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, said at a press conference that the DPP authorities — in pursuing "independence" by relying on foreign forces — have actively coordinated with the US in exploiting and plundering Taiwan.

Such actions, he said, amount to handing over the island's industries and the interests of its people, adding that "the DPP authorities' servile and obsequious posture has been fully laid bare".

Chen made the remarks in response to a statement by Taiwan leader Lai Ching-te on Tuesday on the subject of Taiwan-US cooperation at a press conference of the "economic prosperity partnership dialogue". Lai also called on other parties on the island to safeguard the trade deal between Taiwan and the US.

Referring to the trade agreement between Taiwan and the US, Chen said the so-called "hard-won negotiation results" touted by the DPP authorities are in fact "a list of tributes that sell out and harm Taiwan".

Under the agreement reached on Jan 15, the US will reduce tariff rates on imports from Taiwan from 20 percent to 15 percent. In return, Taiwan pledged to invest at least $250 billion in the US and to provide more than $250 billion in credit guarantees.

The pact has yet to be enacted and is currently under review by the local legislature, where opposition lawmakers in Taiwan have raised concerns about its lack of transparency.