Delegates of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) intend to sidestep politically sensitive decisions on China and Taiwan’s future membership when they meet in Canada this week, the news outlet Politico reported yesterday.
Delegates of the regional trade bloc hope that by putting off the decisions on China and Taiwan’s applications to a later date, they will avoid the thorny politics of Beijing’s One China policy, Politico reported.
“The issue with Taiwan is that it has not garnered consensus among certain members — notably Malaysia and Singapore,” Vina Nadjibulla, a vice-president of the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada think tank, told Politico.
Photo: AFP
Any talk about “progressing negotiations for any aspirant economy will have to be reached by consensus,” said a senior Canadian government official quoted in the story.
CPTPP represents about 15 percent of the global economy. Current members include Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Peru, Chile, Mexico, Brunei, Singapore, Vietnam and Malaysia.
Vietnam, Singapore and Malaysia — which are allied with Beijing and count China among their largest trade partners — have said publicly that they support China’s accession, the news report said.
Taiwan is well-prepared to join the CPTPP, Executive Yuan spokeswoman Michelle Lee (李慧芝) said at a press conference in Taipei today.
Taiwan adheres to the Auckland Principles to meet the trade bloc’s high standards, Lee added, saying that the government pushed for joining CPTPP with multilateral and unilateral means.
Auckland Principles include adhering to the high standards and rules of the deal, a demonstrated track record of obeying the rules of existing agreements and garnering consensus support from all of the bloc’s existing members.
Taiwan can meet two of the three requirements for new members “but not the consensus one,” a senior official from another CPTPP member nation involved in the discussions told Politico, noting there are “a few members to persuade.”
Democratic Progressive Party caucus secretary-general Rosalia Wu (吳思瑤) today said it is sad that Taiwan was prevented from joining the CPTPP because of political reasons despite acting in accordance with international regulations and treaties and making preparations in advance.
Former president Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) urged Taiwanese compatriots in Canada to continue to work for Taiwan by supporting its bid to join the CPTPP during her visit to the country last week.
Additional reporting by Li Wen-hsin and Chung Li-hua
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