31st March 2023 – (Beijing) China has made it clear that it firmly opposes any official interactions between any country and Taiwan, and also rejects Taiwan’s participation in any agreement or organisation of official nature. This statement was made by Mao Ning, the Foreign Ministry spokesperson, during a press briefing on Friday. The spokesperson’s remarks were in response to a question about whether the UK’s entry into the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) could facilitate Taiwan’s accession in the bloc.
The U.K. has officially joined the 11-country CPTPP, including Japan and Australia, in a bid to deepen ties in the Asia-Pacific region and boost its global trade links post-Brexit. The announcement was made on Friday by Reuters. The CPTPP is a free trade agreement that covers a range of areas, including intellectual property, labour rights, and environmental protection.
According to Mao Ning, there is only one China in the world, and Taiwan is an inalienable part of Chinese territory. The spokesperson emphasised that the one-China principle is a universally recognised norm governing international relations and the consensus of the international community. Therefore, any official interactions with Taiwan are deemed unacceptable.
China is an advocate of trade liberalisation and facilitation and is an important participant in Asia-Pacific regional cooperation and economic integration. In September 2021, China formally submitted an application to join the CPTPP. Mao Ning stated that China’s joining of the CPTPP is in line with its own efforts to deepen reform and expand opening-up. It will also help CPTPP members increase their access to China’s market and expand trade cooperations with China.
Mao Ning also mentioned that China is maintaining communication with all parties regarding its CPTPP application. China’s participation in the CPTPP is expected to be a significant development in the Asia-Pacific trade landscape. The CPTPP members represent a combined GDP of over $13 trillion and a market of about 500 million people