Taiwan’s trade pact bid on track

BANGKOK: Taiwan says its bid to join one of Asia’s biggest trade pacts remained on track, after Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese indicated that the accord was only open to recognised nation states.

Albanese’s remarks at the Asia-pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summit in Bangkok caused a stir and prompted Taiwan to seek clarification.

Taiwan, China and the United Kingdom are among economies that have expressed interest in joining the 11-member Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-pacific Partnership, known as the CPTPP.

“The government of Australia has since clarified with Taiwan that its stance on Taiwan’s accession to the CPTPP has not changed and that it continues to welcome the entry of all economies” that meet the pact’s standards, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.

“Taiwan will continue to seek the support of CPTPP members, including Australia.” Albanese, who has moved to stabilise ties with China and met with President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the Group of 20 summit in Bali, was asked whether Australia was now less likely to support Taiwan’s entry into the CPTPP.

“Our position hasn’t been altered on the first matter,” the Australian leader told reporters. But comments that followed caused consternation in Taipei.

“The CPTPP is a relationship between nation states that are recognised. Taiwan is represented here because it is represented here as an economy,” Albanese said, referring to the Apec gathering.

“There is bipartisan support for the One China Policy. We support the status quo on Taiwan.”

Australian diplomats scrambled to reassure partners that Albanese’s government remained open to Taiwan’s entry into the trade pact, the Australian newspaper reported.