President Ma Ying-jeou pledged Sunday to uphold Taiwan's interests at all costs in negotiating an economic cooperation framework agreement (ECFA) with China, an arrangement which he said is essential to reviving Taiwan's trade competitiveness. 'If the ECFA talks cannot secure Taiwan's overall economic benefits, I won't accept it (the agreement) and would rather let it fall apart, ' Ma said in his opening statement when debating opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Chairperson Tsai Ing-wen on the trade pact. According to Ma, the agreement will cover three main areas: tariff reductions and exemption, investment protection, and intellectual rights protection. There is a consensus between Taipei and Beijing that Taiwan will not open its market to Chinese agricultural products and laborers, and that the two sides will make the best of their efforts to protect conventional industries in Taiwan, Ma said. For the small minority of conventional industries that are likely to be impacted by the agreement, the government will set aside NT$95 billion over 10 years to assist them, he said. After Taiwan's global trade ranking declined from 14th to 18th due to a closed- door policy adopted by the DPP during its eight years in power, the ECFA will boost Taiwan's exports and investment as well as employment, Ma argued. He said Taiwan must not allow itself to be isolated and marginalized as the regional economy is becoming increasingly integrated, noting that the number of free trade agreements signed in Asia has increased from three in 2000 to 58 in 2009. In the next 10 years, he continued, a super-large free trade area comprising 17 nations and regions with total population of 3.3 billion is expected to be established. 'We cannot wait any longer. I want to lead Taiwan to recover those eight lost years and open up 10 golden years ahead,' he said. In her opening statement, however, Tsai said Ma's emphasis on the importance of signing the ECFA with China has demonstrated the thinking that 'Taiwan can only gain access to the world via China.' She challenged the president to tell the public if this is Taiwan's 'only choice' and if there is no other alternative available. According to Tsai, the DPP insists that Taiwan should follow several principles in developing economic and trade ties with China. These include that Taiwan must maintain its autonomy and that the relations should be allowed to progress gradually, she said. Also, the ties must comply with the World Trade Organization treaties, and Taiwan must maintain its trade balance and avoid overly leaning toward China, Tsai said. She argued that signing the ECFA is not a mere economic issue, because Taiwan's move will tilt the strategic balance in East Asia and even the whole of Asia. Also, Tsai expressed disappointment at Ma's failure to provide details of the ECFA talks and dismay at government publicity that outlines only the benefits of the ECFA, with no mention of its disadvantages. Once the agreement is signed, Taiwan will be subject to a 10-year time frame in which it will be required to open its market fully, Tsai warned. 'But the president has never told us how large the impact will be,' she said. 