Lawmakers from the ruling and opposition parties have failed to end a stalemate over the review of the trade in services agreement that Taiwan signed with China last June.
The opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Tuesday boycotted the floor meeting to protest the ruling KMT’s unilateral move to complete the review of the agreement.
The DPP demanded an item-to-item review, saying that any decision reached during Monday’s joint review meeting was invalid. The DPP also threatened to take further action in the future.
On Tuesday, high-ranking KMT official Lin Hung-chih said the government will not bow to pressure. Lin said there is no room for discussion.
“It’s impossible. We knew that the DPP will do everything to strangle the agreement," said Lin.
"Will the ruling party sit idly and allow it to do so? No way! It’s impossible! On behalf of the public and for the sake of our national interests, we will not allow the DPP to mess it up.”
Meanwhile, Legislature President Wang Jin-pyng called on both camps to return to the negotiation table.