Taiwan, China reopen free trade talks amid protest

TAIPEI, Sept 10 (AFP):  Taiwan and China resumed talks Wednesday at an undisclosed location on a goods free trade agreement, sparking a protest against secrecy by demonstrators suspicious of closer ties with Beijing.

Economic affairs minister Woody Duh told reporters before the talks opened in the afternoon that Taiwan would focus on flat panels, petrochemicals, machine tools and automobiles where its industries are competitive.

But his ministry has declined to say where the three-day talks are being held, prompting suspicions from the political opposition and activists opposed to the pact.

"Why are the talks being held when the Legislative Yuan (parliament) is in recess? This is a procedure... intended to skip parliamentary supervision," activist Chen Wei-ting told reporters as dozens of slogan-chanting demonstrators rallied at the ministry.

"The economics ministry would not even reveal the venue of the talks," Chen added.

The talks had been delayed about five months following a series of major protests led by Chen and other student leaders against parliament's earlier approval of a services trade agreement with the mainland.