President Tsai says Taiwan is going through a period of rare economic and trade opportunities. She says Taiwan should not be potentially held back by some of the questions presented to voters in a national referendum on Saturday.
Voters will decide on four issues in the upcoming referendum - on restarting construction of the Lungmen Nuclear Power Plant, on relocating a liquid natural gas terminal to protect an algal reef, on reinstating a ban on imports of ractopamine-treated pork, and on holding referendums together with national elections.
Tsai says that the four questions concern not only Taiwan’s ability to resolve trade issues and continue expanding on international markets, but also the country’s energy security and democratic development. The president urged voters to support the government’s position, which means voting ‘no’ on all four issues.
Responding to the South Korean government’s announcement on seeking admission to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, President Tsai says that this adds urgency to Taiwan’s efforts to conform to international standards and join the trade compact. She says that countries wishing to gain a competitive edge in international trade must follow its rules. She says all 11 members of CPTPP, as well as South Korea, allow imports of ractopamine-treated pork and beef, and have been doing so for years without raising safety concerns.