Taiwan cites 'risk' to its Trans-Pacific trade pact application if China joins first

Taipei – There is a "risk" to Taiwan's application to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) if China joins first, Taiwan's government said on Thursday, flagging a potential political roadblock.

Taiwan formally applied to join on Wednesday, less than a week after China, the world's second largest economy.

Taiwan is excluded from many international bodies because of Beijing's "One China" policy, which insists that the island is not a separate country.

Taiwan's chief trade negotiator John Deng told reporters that China always tries to obstruct Taiwan's international participation.

"So if China joins first, Taiwan's membership case should be quite risky. This is quite obvious," he said.

But Taiwan has a different "system" from China, Deng added, pointing to Taiwan's democracy, rule of law, transparent governance and respect for personal property. He urged that the island's application be assessed on its own economic merits.

However, he said there was no direct connection between Taiwan's decision to apply and China's, which has yet to comment on Taiwan's application.

"How mainland China comments on this is a matter for them," Deng said.

He added that Taiwan, a major semiconductor producer, has applied to join under the name it uses in the World Trade Organization (WTO): the Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu. Taiwan is a member of the WTO and Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) grouping.

"I stress that Taiwan is a sovereign, independent nation. It has its own name. But for trade deals the name we have used for years is the least controversial," Deng said.

The CPTPP application was made to New Zealand's government, which handles the paperwork.

Deng said he was not able to predict when Taiwan may be allowed to join the CPTPP, noting that Britain's application was proceeding the fastest at present. Britain began negotiations in June.

The original 12-member agreement, known as the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), was seen as an important economic counterweight to China's growing influence.

But the TPP was thrown into limbo in early 2017 when then-U.S. President Donald Trump withdrew.

The grouping, which was renamed the CPTPP, links Canada, Australia, Brunei, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam.

Japan, which played a leading role in negotiations after the U.S. withdrawal, has expressed concerns over Taiwan's ban on food imports from five Japanese prefectures hit by the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster.

If Japan brings up the issue during the official negotiation process, Deng said Taiwan must face it head-on.

While Deng said he believes "both sides shall be able to find a proper solution," he emphasized that the government will base its decisions on public health, scientific evidence and international standards.

In 2018, Taiwan voters supported the ban remaining in place in a referendum. Tsai said at the time that, despite opposing the ban, she would respect the vote, and her government would continue barring food imports from the areas for two years.

Still, Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi welcomed Taiwan's application, describing Taiwan as an “extremely important partner of Japan” that shares basic values such as the rule of law. Motegi said Tokyo will respond to the island’s bid to join the 11-member CPTPP “based on a strategic point of view and with the public’s understanding.”