Taiwan to seek APEC leaders’ support for trade pact inclusion

Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen said Taiwan would try to gather support from economic leaders to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) pact during the Asia-Pacific group APEC meeting next week.

Economic leaders from the United States, China, and Japan will meet virtually to talk about their plans on recovering from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The president will send chip giant TSMC founder Morris Chang as Taiwan’s representative.

Envoy Chang said his six-minute speech would focus on the qualifications of Taiwan in joining the CPTPP and the country’s strong trade contribution to the major pan-Pacific free trade pact.

Taiwan is currently barred from numerous international organizations following China’s insistence that it is part of “one-China” despite its claim to independence.

China has also applied to join the CPTPP in September.