The government says that China has no right to speak about Taiwan’s bid to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). The CPTPP is a free trade area involving eleven countries bordering the Pacific Ocean.
Taiwan submitted an application to join the partnership on Wednesday, just under a week after China handed in its own application to join. Beijing has expressed opposition to Taiwan joining the agreement. That’s because China considers Taiwan a part of its territory.
On Friday, the foreign ministry said that Taiwan is Taiwan and is not a part of the People’s Republic of China. It said only the democratically elected government of Taiwan can represent Taiwan’s people in international organizations and regional trade systems. It said that the Taiwan government has applied to join the CPTPP on behalf of the people of Taiwan and that Beijing has no say about Taiwan’s bid.
Meanwhile, Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council says that it is Taiwan’s established international right to participate in the negotiation of any regional economic cooperation or agreement. It says that no other country or person has the right to interfere or make comments about Taiwan’s affairs.