Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen has urged Australian to back Taiwan’s bid to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). This plea comes as Taiwan and China both applied in 2021 to join the trade pact, with China opposing Taiwan’s inclusion due to its territorial claims over the island nation.
The CPTPP, a significant trade agreement established in 2018 by 11 countries, including Australia, covers various aspects of trade and economic cooperation. Britain also recently gained membership to the pact earlier this year.
During a meeting with a delegation of Australian lawmakers, President Tsai highlighted the importance of Australia to Taiwan, stating that Australia is Taiwan’s largest energy supplier and a significant source of agricultural products. She expressed hope for enhanced economic and trade collaboration between the two nations.
“We look forward to the continued strengthening of economic and trade cooperation between Taiwan and Australia,” Tsai remarked. “We also hope that the Australian government and parliament will support Taiwan’s accession to the CPTPP to jointly promote economic growth and sustainable development of the Indo-Pacific region.”
Australia’s Trade Minister Don Farrell has emphasized that all member countries must agree to the addition of a new member to the CPTPP, and discussions among current members are ongoing regarding the process for considering new applications. It’s worth noting that Australia, like most countries, does not maintain formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan.
President Tsai praised Australia’s role in preserving peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region and underlined the significance of maintaining peace in the Taiwan Strait. She expressed her gratitude for Australia’s contribution to safeguarding a free and open Indo-Pacific region, emphasizing that protecting such an environment is a shared goal of both Taiwan and Australia.
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