Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen has called on Britain to support its bid to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). Taiwan and China both
applied in 2021 to join the free trade pact, which removes 95% of tariffs between its 11 members. However, China opposes Taiwan joining the pact, as it claims the island as its own territory.
In a meeting with visiting British lawmakers, President Tsai expressed her hope that Britain's accession to the CPTPP would proceed smoothly. She also called on Britain to support Taiwan's bid to join the agreement, saying that it would allow the two countries to deepen their partnership.
Britain has also applied to join the CPTPP, seeking post-Brexit opportunities to expand its trade ties. The trade pact's members include Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, and Vietnam. In October 2021, trade pact members stated that Britain's application was progressing, and subsequent applicants would need to show "a demonstrated pattern of complying with their trade commitments". Ecuador and Costa Rica have also applied to join the pact.
China's embassy in Britain condemned the visit of the British lawmakers to Taiwan, saying that they were insisting on visiting the island despite China's strong opposition. The UK, like most countries, does not have formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan, but has been keen to show its support in the face of China's threats. China has been increasing its military, political, and economic pressure on Taiwan to assert its sovereignty claims.
Despite China's opposition, Taiwan regularly hosts visiting foreign lawmakers, especially from fellow democracies. Taiwan's government rejects China's sovereignty claims, stating that only Taiwan's people can decide their future.
In conclusion, Taiwan has called on Britain to support its bid to join the CPTPP, a major pan-Pacific free trade pact. Both Taiwan and China applied in 2021 to join the trade pact, but China opposes Taiwan joining as it claims the island as its own territory. Britain has also applied to join the pact, seeking to expand its trade ties post-Brexit. While China has condemned the visit of British lawmakers to Taiwan, the island regularly hosts foreign lawmakers, especially from fellow democracies. Taiwan's government rejects China's sovereignty claims, stating that only Taiwan's people can decide their future. Photo by Heeheemalu, Wikimedia commons.