Beijing warns Australia: Don’t support Taiwan CPTPP bid

Beijing has warned Australia, Japan, Canada and others against supporting Taiwan’s bid to join the CPTPP.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian. Picture: Reuters

Beijing has warned Australia, Japan, Canada and others against supporting Taiwan’s bid to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership.

“There is only one China in the world, and Taiwan is an inalienable part of China’s territory,” said Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian.

“China firmly opposes all official interactions with Taiwan, firmly rejects Taiwan’s accession to any agreement or organisation of official nature. China’s position on this issue is clear,” the Xi administration spokesman said in Beijing on Thursday evening.

Beijing’s threat came as Japanese diplomats were working behind the scenes with Australia, Canada and other partners on a possible path for Taiwan — a self-governed island of 24 million people — to enter the giant trading block, known as the CPTPP.

Joining the group requires the unanimous consent of all of the eight members of the group, who have ratified the trade pact.

“I don’t think there is going to be a consensus – on either China or Taiwan,” Bilahari Kausikan, the former head of Singapore’s foreign ministry, told The Weekend Australian.

The eight ratified members are Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, Vietnam, Peru and Mexico. Malaysia, Brunei and Chile are CPTPP signatories, but are still to ratify.

Singapore, Australia and Japan – which also has a fraught relationship with China – are on a committee of the key trade group that assesses potential new members, while New Zealand handles requests for membership.

The Trudeau government on Friday said Canada would not publicly support either Taiwan or China, which last week launched a brazen application to join the group. “From the Canadian perspective, I don’t think you are going to hear anybody publicly supporting Taiwan,” said Canada’s former high commissioner to Australia Paul Maddison.

“But I think there would be real interest in having those conversations behind closed doors about what is within the art of the possible,” he said.

While the Australian and Canadian governments have used neutral language when asked about Taiwan’s application, a senior diplomatic source involved in the process told The Weekend Australian they had been in discussions with Japanese officials about an entry path for Taiwan.

Trade minister Dan Tehan – who last week said China’s application for the giant trading block would require the end of its trade coercion against Australia – indicated Canberra was co-ordinating with others on Taiwan’s bid.

“Australia will work with the CPTPP membership to consider Taiwan’s application on a consensus basis, in accordance with the CPTPP Accession Guidelines,” he said.

Japan has been most outspoken in support of Taiwan.

Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe – who remains hugely influential in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party – said it was “extremely important” for Japan to support Taiwan’s bid.  Taiwan’s president Tsai Ing-wen said the island democracy’s bid was five years in the making and reflected Taiwan’s “commitment to promoting free trade in the Asia-Pacific”.

While Australia’s Trade Minister was neutral in his statement, less constrained members of the Morrison government have been openly supportive.

Last SaturdayChina’s customs officials banned Taiwanese wax apple and custard apple exports, citing pest concerns. The Tsai administration is considering taking China to the WTO.