TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's bid to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) could bolster supply chain resilience and strengthen global economic security, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) on Tuesday (April 30).
Lien Yu-ping, director of the Department of International Cooperation and Economic Affairs at MOFA, said Tuesday that Taiwan is actively seeking membership in the CPTPP and has been hosting seminars and roundtable discussions in Canada, the CPTPP Commission Chair. The goal is to build grassroots support and maintain momentum for Taiwan's bid.
As part of these efforts, MOFA Deputy Minister Kelly Hsieh traveled to Canada in April to deliver a speech and co-host a seminar with the Canadian Global Affairs Institute. The "Canada-Taiwan Economic Cooperation: Opportunities for Western Canada" seminar highlighted the potential benefits of Taiwan's inclusion in the CPTPP.
When asked about potential opposition from Beijing to Taiwan's CPTPP bid, Lien pointed to recent speeches by Ken Hardie, a member of the governing Liberal Party of Canada, and Christy Clark, former premier of British Columbia. Both emphasized the significant benefits that Taiwan's membership would bring to Canada and other member nations.