Published Date: 2021-10-19
Japan welcomes Taiwan’s
application for entry into the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific
Partnership (CPTPP). That was the word from foreign ministry spokesperson
Joanne Ou on Tuesday.
Taiwan’s Cabinet
Minister without Portfolio John Deng said that Taiwan’s chances of getting into
the CPTPP are high, but Japan’s representative office in Taipei said that
remark might be too optimistic. The CPTPP is an 11-nation free trade pact and
Japan chairs the CPTPP’s decision making body.
Ou says Japan is
one of Taiwan’s important friends. She said Taiwan thanks the Japanese
government for its long-term support of Taiwan especially in its application to
enter the CPTPP. Ou said in the future, Taiwan will push for more regional
trade cooperation with the eleven member states to bring stability and
prosperity to the Indo-Pacific region.
Meanwhile, Premier
Su Tseng-chang said that Taiwan relies on international trade. Su said the
government will vie for this opportunity to help Taiwan’s economy and the
welfare of the Taiwanese people.
Economics Minister
Wang Mei-hua also thanked Japan for welcoming Taiwan to join the CPTPP. Wang
said large scale regional economic integration such as the CPTPP is a very
important opportunity for Taiwan. She said Taiwan needs to work hard to join
the trade pact as there are many other countries that are vying to enter as
well.