President Ma Ying-jeou's administration is going all out to clinch atrade pact with China despite the fact that it will put Taiwan's sovereignty, safety and economy at risk. In order to let the people have the final say on this issue, Taiwan Solidarity Union Chairman Huang Kun-huei said he will push again for a referendum on the proposed pact, as the first attempt by the Democratic Progressive Party was quashed by Ma's administration. Ma has said that the trade agreement with China will neither undermine Taiwan's sovereignty nor alter its status and therefore should not be put to a referendum. However, he said on another occasion that the pact will be an agreement between Taiwan and the Chinese mainland, which is a negation of Taiwan's sovereignty as it implies that China comprises a mainland and Taiwan. Ma has claimed that such a trade agreement with China will facilitate negotiations by Taiwan for similar pacts with other countries. But a Chinese trade official rebutted that any states which intend to follow China's lead in sealing trade pacts with Taiwan should first seek Beijing's approval. As we have pointed out many times, such a pact will speed up the relocation of local factories to China and strip more people of their jobs. If we allow President Ma to get his way, Taiwan will undoubtedly be downgraded into another Hong Kong, against the will of the people. A referendum will be an effective way to scuttle Ma's plot, and it cannot be delayed until the next presidential election, as the Ma administration has already begun negotiations with China on the trade agreement.(Feb. 25, 2010) 