Mainland China hits out at Taiwan’s bid to join trans-Pacific trade bloc

Beijing says it opposes the island joining international bodies as Taipei seeks to join Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership

‘China has long tried all it could to squeeze Taiwan’s international space,” says island’s top trade negotiator John Deng

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Beijing applied to join the CPTPP on September 16 and Taipei applied on September 22. Photo: AP Photo

Published: 3:01pm, 23 Sep 2021Updated: 11:34pm, 23 Sep 2021

Beijing has criticised Taiwan’s attempt to join a trans-Pacific trade pact saying it opposed the island joining any official international agreements and organisations.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said Taiwan is an inalienable part of China, when asked about Taiwan’s application to join the 11-member Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, which Beijing has also applied to join.

“We resolutely oppose any country’s official exchanges with Taiwan, and resolutely oppose the Taiwan region’s accession to any official agreements and organizations,” Zhao said on Thursday.

The comments highlight Taiwan’s worries that Beijing could block its membership if its application is accepted first.

Taipei officially submitted its application on Wednesday to join the CPTPP under the name “the Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu (Chinese Taipei)” – a title it used in the World Trade Organization, of which Beijing is also a member.

The submission of the application to New Zealand, the depository nation of the agreement, came after Beijing made the same request on September 16, prompting concerns in Taiwan that the island might be barred from joining if the mainland was accepted before Taipei.