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Published Date: 2021-09-24
The government
says that China has no right to speak about Taiwan’s bid to join the
Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).
The CPTPP is a free trade area involving eleven countries bordering the Pacific
Ocean.
Taiwan submitted
an application to join the partnership on Wednesday, just under a week after
China handed in its own application to join. Beijing has expressed opposition
to Taiwan joining the agreement. That’s because China considers Taiwan a part
of its territory.
On Friday, the
foreign ministry said that Taiwan is Taiwan and is not a part of the People’s
Republic of China. It said only the democratically elected government of Taiwan
can represent Taiwan’s people in international organizations and regional trade
systems. It said that the Taiwan government has applied to join the CPTPP on
behalf of the people of Taiwan and that Beijing has no say about Taiwan’s bid.
Meanwhile,
Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council says that it is Taiwan’s established
international right to participate in the negotiation of any regional economic
cooperation or agreement. It says that no other country or person has the right
to interfere or make comments about Taiwan’s affairs.