Taiwan says 'risk' to its Trans-Pacific trade pact bid 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 China's insistence that it is part of "one-China" rather than a separate country.

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

"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, Mr Deng said, pointing to Taiwan's democracy, rule of law, transparent laws and respect for personal property.

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However, he said, there was no direct connection between Taiwan's decision to apply and China's.

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

When asked about Taiwan's application to the trade pact, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian reiterated a long-standing position that Taiwan is part of China.

"We are firmly opposed to any country having official ties with Taiwan, and to Taiwan entering into any official treaty or organisation," Mr Zhao said.

Mr Deng said 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.

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

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

REUTERS