Trade talks between the United States and Taiwan take off in spite of China’s attitude

Washington and Taipei have reached an agreement to push ahead with trade talks. It would signal the beginning of the US-Taiwan Initiative on 21st-Century Trade. The intention is to improve trade and advance common standards, especially in areas like anti-corruption policy and environmental regulations. This initiative between the United States and Taiwan is against the background of heightened tensions with China. It pertains to the status of the self-ruled island. The first round of talks could happen within two to three months. As an official explained, the plan would cover the eleven trade areas in the negotiating mandate. These would pave the way to create a fairer, more prosperous and resilient 21st century economy. US and Taiwan announce trade talks amid tensions with China. US President Joe Biden excluded the democratic island from the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF). Observers feel this Asia-focused economic initiative would curb the growing influence of China as a rising military power and the world’s second-largest economy. Incidentally, China is the biggest trading partner of most of the region’s major economies, including Taiwan.

The talks between the US and Taiwan did not go down well with China. It had conducted military exercises when US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan recently. At a regular press conference, an official of the commerce ministry said China opposed the talks and would take all necessary measures to uphold its sovereignty, security and development interests. China treats Taiwan as a province that must be “reunified” with the mainland. It wants to achieve this by force, if necessary. China accused the US of trying to overturn decades of diplomatic policy concerning the status of Taiwan. During the Nixon-era, Washington did not accord recognition to Taiwan as an independent country or China’s territory. However, the US is obliged to extend assistance to Taiwan in order to defend itself under the Taiwan Relations Act of 1979.

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