After ECFA: The Present and Future of Cross-Strait Relations

With an Address by Minister Shin-Yuan Lai, Director of Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council

On June 29, Taipei and Beijing signed the Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA). This pact, essentially a free trade agreement, is expected to raise Taiwan’s economic growth rate and could stabilize relations across the Taiwan Strait in the coming years, benefitting U.S. economic and security interests in the region. While the ECFA is indicative of warmer cross-Strait ties, many aspects of the China-Taiwan dispute are not resolved. Beijing has continued its buildup of missiles opposite Taiwan and has not abandoned its threat to use force against the island. How does the Ma administration assess cross-Strait ties in the wake of the ECFA’s signing? What are the next steps for the governments in Taipei and Beijing? Shin-Yuan Lai, minister of Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council, will address these and other questions at this AEI event.

9:45 a.m.
Registration

10:00
Introduction:
GARY SCHMITT, AEI

Speaker:
MINISTER SHIN-YUAN LAI, Mainland Affairs Council

11:00
Adjournment

Please register online at www.aei.org/event/100271 or by faxing this form to 202.862.7171. Shortly after the event occurs, a video webcast will be available on the AEI website at www.aei.org/video.