If South Korea forges a free trade agreement (FTA) with China before the signing of a proposed cross-Taiwan Strait economic cooperation framework agreement (ECFA) , it would have a major adverse impact on Taiwan's electronics sector, economists warned Friday. The blow would be much more serious than the formation of 'the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) plus one (China)' free trade area that took effect on Jan. 1, said Liu Da-nien, a researcher at the Chung-hua Institution for Economic Research. Liu told the Central News Agency that South Korea -- a regional competitor against Taiwan in the electronics, semiconductor and flat panel manufacturing industries -- has completed the first stage of talks on the planned free trade agreement with China. The northern Asia country has achieved a consensus among the industrial, governmental and academic sectors on the issue and is now advancing to the second stage of conducting government-to-government talks with Beijing, Liu added. If the FTA is signed before the ECFA and allows South Korea's exports to China to enjoy zero-tariff treatment, it would greatly affect Taiwan's exports to China because China is not only Taiwan's largest export market but also South Korea's, he warned. Thus, 'it is necessary and urgent' for Taiwan to sign the trade pact with China, Liu argued. Meanwhile, Topology Research Institute Vice President Simon Yang expressed concern that the planned China-Sough Korea FTA will become Beijing's bargaining chip in its talks with Taiwan on the ECFA. Once the FTA is signed, South Korean-made electronics products like television sets, mobile phones and home appliances will be able to enter China's market duty-free. It will be a 'great threat' to similar products made in Taiwan, Yang said. The Ma Ying-jeou administration has made the signing of the framework agreement between Taiwan and China a top priority out of concern that Taiwan will be marginalized as other countries in the region seek economic integration. 