The Liberal government is refusing to offer support for Taiwan to join a Trans-Pacific trade agreement, recent reports reveal.
According to the Globe and Mail, both China and Taiwan have simultaneously applied to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). The Trudeau government has decided to not support neither countries’ efforts.
“All decisions are made by consensus, and any country that joins CPTPP must meet and comply with the high standard rules and ambitious market access commitments of the CPTPP,” Global Affairs spokesperson Lama Khodr told the outlet.
The move seems to follow the Liberals’ reluctance to stand up to China by siding with Taiwan, which the Communist Party of China has territorial ambitions over.
A public consultation by Ottawa on who Canadians believe should be admitted to the partnership found that Taiwan was the second choice to be included in the partnership following Thailand.
Despite the support, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government has repeatedly snubbed Taiwan on the international stage.
Reports from earlier this year revealed that the Liberal government tried to prevent Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen from being awarded the Halifax International Security Forum’s 2020 John McCain Prize for Leadership in Public Service.
Despite the interference attempt, President Tsai was issued the award after public outrage.
Additional former Liberal foreign affairs minister François-Philippe Champagne refused to thank Taiwan directly last year for medical supply donations while thanking China for their own donations.
In recent months, China has increased its hostile activities in the area after flying 28 Chinese military aircrafts near Taiwan’s air defence zone.
The show of force by China was one of the largest in recent history to enter the area.
The planes included four H-6 nuclear bombers and six J-11 fighter jets.
