Former vice president Lien Chan (連戰) yesterday said that Taiwan had been invited to join the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), a major initiative seeking to create a Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP). However, his assertion seemed to conflict with remarks by a trade official later in the day.
Lien made the remark at a press conference before he leaves tomorrow for the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting this weekend in Yokohama, Japan, to represent President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九).
Taiwanese presidents are not allowed to attend the summit because of Chinese opposition.
Photo: CNA
“The Republic of China ... has been supportive of the establishment of an FTAAP as a long-term goal. We have been reminded of the need — in fact we’ve been invited — to enhance our participation [in pursuing regional economic integration] under the TPP framework,” Lien said.
This marked the first mention of Taiwan’s involvement in the TPP, which has received strong endorsement from the US, as it seeks to increase its engagement within the region.
A Bureau of Foreign Trade official later added a few caveats to Lien’s comments on Taiwan’s participation in the body.
“[Our participation is] not to the extent that we have been invited or are able to participate in the TPP, but that we have expressed our interest in the TPP to its member countries on various occasions,” bureau Deputy Director-General Chang Chun-fu (張俊福) told the Taipei Times by telephone.
Chang said some TPP member states contacted by Taiwan had offered ideas as to how Taipei could obtain a better understanding of the organization.
The TPP, a free-trade agreement originally consisting of New Zealand, Singapore, Chile and Brunei that entered into force in May 2006, and ASEAN Plus Three (the ASEAN states as well as Japan, South Korea and China) are looked upon as the potential key regional approaches to an FTAAP.
Malaysia last month became the ninth member of the TPP, which also includes Australia, Peru, the US and Vietnam, among others, while Japan is considering joining.
“Not only Taiwan, but many APEC members became intrigued by the TPP after the US decided to join the negotiations in 2008,” Chang said, adding that Taiwan had yet to express its preferences in terms of routes into an FTAAP.
During this weekend’s summit, APEC members will review the possible avenues for achieving an FTAAP, including the TPP and ASEAN Plus Three.
“Due to the lack of progress in the Doha Round of global market-opening talks, APEC now has an opportunity to move toward an FTAAP,” Lien said.
Lien said Taiwan would keep a close eye on developments surrounding the FTAAP, especially under a TPP framework.
“Whether Japan will join a TPP is still unknown ... If some consensus is reached after countries exchange ideas at the summit, we expect more countries will join the TPP,” Lien said.
Lien also said he would use the occasion to discuss with Chinese President Hu Jintao (胡錦濤), who will also attend the summit, issues related to the Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA) and how to shape Taiwan’s economic future.
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