Source: Global Times
[Global Times Special Correspondent in Australia Dajo] Australian Prime Minister Albany said on the 18th that the " Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement " (CPTPP) is an agreement between "recognized countries", and Taiwan does not belong to this category and can only be considered an economy . He stressed that both parties in Australia support the one-China policy.
According to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) report on the 18th, Albanes, who is attending the 29th APEC 2 Leaders' Informal Meeting in Bangkok, Thailand, said at a press conference that day that CPTPP is a cooperation agreement signed between "recognized countries". Taiwan does not belong to this category, and it is now participating in APEC as an economy. Albanis stressed that both parties in Australia support the one-China policy. "We support maintaining the status quo on the Taiwan issue and do not want to see any unilateral measures to change the status quo in the Taiwan Strait."
Taiwan authorities have been seeking to join the CPTPP and submitted their application in September last year. After Albanes made the above statement, Taiwan's foreign affairs department spokesman Ou Jiangan criticized Albanes' statement on the 18th as "contradicting the relevant provisions of CPTPP", and later that day he claimed that he had "received clarification from the Australian side."
ABC Asia-Pacific Foreign Affairs reporter Stephen Jeziz said on Twitter on the 18th that Albany seemed to have made it clear that he would "will not" support Taiwan to join the CPTPP, which is a change in position compared to the last Australian government. Morrison's Trade Minister Dan Teen once claimed that Australia would consider Taiwan's application to join the CPTPP under a one-China policy. Chinese Foreign Ministry’s spokesperson Wang Wenbin made it clear at the time that on the issue of Taiwan’s participation in regional economic cooperation, it must be handled in accordance with the one-China principle . China firmly opposes any country's sovereignty and official agreements with Taiwan.
Currently, CPTPP member states include Canada, Australia, Brunei , Chile , Japan, Malaysia , Mexico, New Zealand , Peru , Singapore and Vietnam. To join the CPTPP, you must obtain the consent of all 11 existing member states. On October 27 this year, China's Ministry of Commerce spokesman Shu Jueting said at a regular press conference that on September 16, 2021, China officially applied for joining the CPTPP. At present, China is in contact, communication and consultation with member states in accordance with the CPTPP joining procedure.
