President Ma Ying-jeou is calling on China not to sabotage Taiwan’s bid to join the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). The TPP is a high-level free trade agreement now being negotiated among a dozen Pacific Rim countries.
Ma made the comments on Friday while receiving a delegation from the World Taiwanese Chambers of Commerce. He said Taiwan’s failure to approve a trade in services agreement with China is a loss. Ma also said he feels Taiwan needs to join regional economic integration projects because China and South Korea may sign a free trade agreement this year. Once that agreement is signed, Taiwanese products will lose some of their market share in China.
Ma said his administration is pushing for Taiwan’s participation in the TPP. He called on Beijing not to block Taiwan’s bid.
"China is the biggest trade partner of 7 of the 12 countries [now in TPP negotiations], and 6 of them signed free trade agreements with China. If Mainland China opposes or boycotts our bid, it’ll be difficult for us to join [the TPP]," said Ma.
"In addition to asking support from the US and other countries [in TPP negotiations], we also hope that Mainland China will not block [our bid]. This way, we both can become members of this regional economic organization," he said.