The launch of commercial discussions with the United States could arouse a lively reaction from the Chinese government, which considers the island as belonging to China.
Le Monde with AFP
In the next day of the incursion of thirty Chinese planes in the Taiwan defense area, which lives under the constant threat of an invasion of China, the United States and Taiwan launched on Wednesday 1 ER June, bilateral commercial discussions. They brave, Thus, Beijing who considers the island as one of its provinces, promising to recover it, by force if necessary and refuses that it begins any official relationship with foreign countries. The launch of commercial discussions with Washington could arouse a strong reaction from the Chinese government.
The Deputy Trade Representative of the United States, Sarah Bianchi, and the Minister of Taiwan, John Deng, met “virtually” and launched “the United States-Taiwan initiative on XXI E century, with the objective of developing concrete means of deepening “economic and commercial relations, according to a press release from the American ambassador to trade.
The first meeting must be held “later this month in Washington under the auspices of Tecro”, the economic and cultural representation office of Taipei in the United States and the American Institute in Taiwan. Tecro represents Taiwan’s interests in the United States in the absence of formal diplomatic relations, operating as a de facto embassy.
The objective of the initiative launched on Wednesday is to facilitate exchanges, to adopt “healthy and transparent practices” or to cooperate in favor of the environment or climate action, detailed the ambassador American in trade. They also have “the intention to explore provisions aimed at facilitating agricultural trade” or even fighting corruption. 2> “a binding framework agreement”
Washington and Taipei said last week that they decided to strengthen their trade relations. The United States and Taiwan have been linked since 1994 by a “executive” for trade and investments.
Taipei also joined the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 2002, which contributed to the growth of bilateral trade. The United States is, in fact, the most important partner and supplier of weapons in Taiwan. The next step in the economic relationship would thus be a formal trade agreement which, for the time being, is long overdue in a complex political context. “I hope that this initiative will lead to a binding framework agreement,” said an official of the US administration at a conference call with journalists.
The United States, like most countries, do not officially recognize Taiwan, but they strongly support the island, which they highlight “democratic” status by opposing it to what they deem to be a Chinese “autocracy”.
This initiative was also launched shortly after the announcement of a new economic partnership in Asia-Pacific, disclosed on May 23 by President Joe Biden during a tour in Asia. The economic framework for Indo-Pacific (Indo-Pacific Economic Framework, IPEF) is not a free trade agreement, but it is supposed to make China counterweight by facilitating integration between its signatory countries via the ‘ Adoption of joint standards in the digital sector, supply chains, green energies and the fight against corruption.
Beijing, who felt deliberately excluded, had said it. Washington seeks to “train small clicks in the name of freedom and openness”, hoping to “contain China”, had thus criticized the Minister of Foreign Affairs Chinese Wang Yi, considering the American project “dedicated” to the failure. Taiwan is not yet part of the IPEF, but a high American official said that it was not excluded.
