(Central News Agency reporter Wu Shenghong, Taipei, 22nd) Regarding Taiwan’s efforts to join the CPTPP, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated today that Minister Joseph Wu pointed out in an interview with the New Zealand media that Taiwan has worked hard to carry out economic and trade reforms to meet high standards, but China, which does not meet the conditions for membership, has Trying to dominate the admission process for new members is unfair to Taiwan or CPTPP members. We call on members to exclude political considerations and hope that New Zealand will support Taiwan’s joining CPTPP.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a press release in the evening stating that Minister Joseph Wu recently accepted an exclusive interview with the New Zealand online media “Newsroom” (Newsroom) to elaborate on Taiwan-New Zealand bilateral relations, the situation in the Taiwan Strait and the Indo-Pacific, and Taiwan’s bid to join the CPTPP. The interview was published under the title “Taiwan wants NZ support to counter ‘expanding authoritarianism'” and received attention from all walks of life in New Zealand.
Joseph Wu pointed out that Taiwan and New Zealand share universal values such as freedom, democracy, human rights and the rule of law, and signed the Taiwan-New Zealand Economic and Trade Cooperation Agreement (ANZTEC) in 2013, laying a good foundation for bilateral friendly relations.
Joseph Wu said that in recent years, China has threatened the security of the Pacific region, allowing Taiwan and New Zealand to develop common interests in cooperating to fight authoritarian expansion; China’s overseas information manipulation has also seriously penetrated New Zealand’s Chinese community, and Taiwan’s civil society can cooperate with New Zealand’s Non-governmental organizations and academic institutions share response experiences. In addition, in the future, Taiwan and New Zealand can also explore opportunities to strengthen interactive exchanges in the fields of indigenous peoples and education.
Regarding the fight to join the CPTPP, Joseph Wu pointed out that Taiwan has worked hard to carry out economic and trade reforms in order to meet the high standards of the CPTPP. However, China, which does not meet the membership requirements, is trying to dominate the admission process for new members. This is unfair to Taiwan or CPTPP members; he called on members Political considerations should be eliminated and the conditions of individual applicant countries should be used solely as the basis for whether to support their membership. We also hope that New Zealand will publicly support Taiwan’s membership in the CPTPP.
Asked about the time when China might invade Taiwan, Joseph Wu said that war is not imminent or inevitable. Taiwan will continue to adopt responsible policies and strive to maintain the peaceful status quo across the Taiwan Strait. It will also continue to strengthen its self-defense capabilities to deter China from launching an invasion. war.
Wu Zhaoxie said that the United States has strengthened the alliance of democracies through the US-Japan-Philippines Summit, the US-Japan-ROK Summit, and the Australia-UK-US Trilateral Security Partnership (AUKUS) to convey its opposition to unilateral changes in the status quo, its emphasis on freedom and openness in the Indo-Pacific region, and the maintenance of peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region, including the Taiwan Strait. Important messages such as regional peace and stability are all intended to enhance the ability to deter China. (Editor: Lin Kelun) 1130422
