Taiwan asks to join trade group, risks China’s ire

TAIPEI, Taiwan — Taiwan has applied to join an 11-nation Pacific trade group, Cabinet officials said Thursday, setting up a potential clash with rival Beijing over the status of the island democracy.

Taiwan’s application to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership might be disrupted if China, which applied last week, is admitted first, said John Deng, a minister without portfolio.

The CPTPP, which took effect in 2018, includes agreements on market access, movement of labor and government procurement. Other members include Australia, Canada, Japan, Mexico, Singapore and New Zealand.

The mainland’s ruling Communist Party claims Taiwan as part of its territory and says its elected government has no right to conduct foreign relations.

After the announcement by the island’s government, China flew fighter jets toward Taiwan twice on Thursday, once in the morning with 19 planes, and once in the afternoon with five more. Taiwan deployed air patrol forces in response to the Chinese jets and tracked them on its air defense systems, the island’s Defense Ministry said in a statement. China has sent fighter jets toward Taiwan on an almost daily basis this past year.

The CPTPP was the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a group promoted by then-President Barack Obama. His successor, President Donald Trump, pulled out in 2017. President Joe Biden has not rejoined.

China and Taiwan have extensive trade and investment ties but no official relations.

Deng said Taiwan’s status as a democracy adhering to the rule of law with an integrated market economy should count in its favor.