Taiwan has no other choice but to 'look outwards' in the face of globalization, said Tsai Ing-wen, the chairwoman of the opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) , Monday. In a speech delivered at National Dong Hwa University in eastern Taiwan, Tsai said many members of the public were made deeply 'insecure' by the challenges brought about by globalization and were struggling to stay afloat. She credited her party's appeal to these 'insecure' voters for its recent electoral success, winning six of seven seats up for grabs in the legislative by-elections this year. 'As a country with an island-type economy, Taiwan cannot be 'too romantic, ' and has no other choice but to look outwards rather than inwards,' she said. On President Ma Ying-jeou's plan to sign an economic cooperation framework agreement (ECFA) with China to further expand cross-strait trade and sharpen Taiwan's competitiveness, Tsai acknowledged that it was unavoidable for Taiwan to engage China economically. She said, however, that 'defense mechanisms' and other complementary measures were necessary before such a pact is inked. Taiwan's opposition, including Tsai's DPP, has been critical of the proposed trade pact with China -- which the government hopes to sign by the middle of the year -- arguing that it will negatively impact several industries and hurt Taiwan's sovereignty. Tsai agreed with the view of a student from China, enrolled at the university on an exchange program, that 'there have been no big differences in the economic and other public policies between the ruling Kuomintang and the DPP.' Tsai, however, emphasized that her party tends to focus more on caring for less privileged groups. 