The main opposition Democratic Progressive Party and the smaller Taiwan Solidarity Union have launched campaigns for a nationwide referendum about the eventual accord, which they say will threaten Taiwan’s sovereign status and harm its economy. The government of President Ma Ying-jeou says a referendum is not needed because ECFA will be a purely economic document without political ramifications.

At a seminar about ECFA Sunday, the Taiwan Thinktank said its survey showed that 85.9 percent of the public still had no clear idea about the contents of the accord, while 55.2 percent were worried about its impact on their lives. A total of 84.5 percent said the public should have the right to participate in the decision-making surrounding ECFA, the think tank said.

The DPP petition for a referendum received approval from 61.4 percent of the survey respondents, while being rejected by 28.1 percent.

If a nationwide plebiscite were held, 61.4 percent of respondents would go and vote, but 30.6 percent would stay home. The government should support plans for a referendum, respondents said, with 21 percent disagreeing. Any important treaty should be put up to a nationwide vote, was a view agreed to by 71.1 percent according to the survey.

The opinion poll also found that 47.5 percent of respondents agreed that there was insufficient public supervision of the agreements the government was signing with China, while 22.9 percent disagreed. According to the survey, 49.7 percent held the opinion that the public received insufficient room to voice its opinion on the government’s China policies, though 39.1 percent disagreed.

The poll was conducted on behalf of the Taiwan Thinktank on June 24 and 25. There were 1,080 valid samples, with a margin of error of 3 percent.

DPP Chairwoman Tsai Ing-wen told the Taiwan Thinktank seminar her party was ready to take on the government in a public debate about the need for an ECFA. She said the party had already consulted with academics and social groups to prepare for an eventual debate. A public debate would give the government the opportunity to explain what needed explaining, so the public would be able to learn what ECFA really meant, she said. There was only true democracy if there was a broad discussion across society about topics that would affect Taiwan’s future, according to Tsai.

She criticized the government for its failure to explain the procedures, contents and aims of ECFA.

She rejected Ma’s arguments that a far-reaching trade agreement with China was necessary because the Association of Southeast Asian Nations was planning to begin cutting tariffs with Japan, South Korea and China beginning next year.

Signing an ECFA with China would only deepen the gap between rich and poor and between city and countryside inside Taiwan, and even change the country’s social structure and political choices, she said.

Ma’s enthusiasm for ECFA would also lead the Taiwanese delegation without bargaining chips during its talks with China, Tsai said. The government has said it wants to begin discussing the accord during the next round of cross-straits talks expected before the end of the year and sign the agreement some time next year.