China’s top negotiator with Taiwan says there “should be no problem” for Taiwan to join China’s Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. The official is Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS) President Chen Deming. His comments came on Sunday at the Boao Forum for Asia, which is currently under way in the southern Chinese province of Hainan.
Several western countries have recently joined the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB). China has made joining the bank a requirement for countries hoping to participate in its New Silk Road projects, in which it is planning to spend tens of billions of dollars to expand infrastructure.
Taiwan’s finance ministry has said that if invited, Taiwan would be willing to join the bank. But the bank only allows membership to sovereign nations. China considers Taiwan part of its territory and not an independent nation, although the two have been ruled separately for more than 60 years.
ARATS President Chen Deming’s comments on Sunday could pave the way for Taiwan’s participation in the bank. Chen said that more discussion was needed but that it “should not be a problem”.