The United States and Taiwan challenge China and prepare new trade agreements

The US and Taiwan announced Thursday that they will open business negotiations in the coming months, in a context of increasing military, diplomatic and economic “coercion” by China on Taipei, as denounced by Washington’s top diplomat for East Asia.

The Chinese military carried out its largest air and sea military exercises for several days in the Taiwan Strait, in response to the recent visit to Taipei by US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, which angered the Beijing government.

Taiwan lives under the constant threat of a Chinese invasion, which considers the island as part of its territory and could take it by force if necessary.

The negotiations

It is in this context that the United States and Taiwan will start trade negotiations, demonstrating support for the democratically governed island in the face of Chinese maneuvers, despite Washington having no formal relations with Taipei.

those negotiations it will cover several sectors, including agriculture, digital trade and the reduction or elimination of tariff barriersaccording to a statement from the Office of the United States Trade Representative.

In addition to the development of trade and investment, the talks will address the issue of responses to “anti-market policies and methods,” announced the office of US Trade Representative Katherine Tai, which could be interpreted as a reference to China. .

The formal launch of these new discussions is a sign of the willingness of the United States to get closer, in itself, to Taiwan an important business partner.

“We welcome this opportunity to deepen economic collaboration between our two freedom-loving countries,” Taiwan’s foreign ministry tweeted.

The island produces and supplies the world with the most advanced semiconductorsused in many sectors, from mobile phones to computers, passing through cars or missiles.

Strong reaction from Beijing

But by far Taiwan’s most important trading partner remains China, which reacted on Thursday by “firmly opposing” these trade talks between the island and Washington.

“China has always opposed any trade between any country and the Chinese region of Taiwan,” said a spokeswoman for the foreign ministry, Shu Jueting.

42% of Taiwanese exports go to China and Hong Kong and only 15% go to the United States, according to data from 2021.

Washington diplomatically recognizes China, but has de facto relations with Taiwan and defends the island’s right to decide its future.

The Chinese “coercion”

The United States now accuses China of using Pelosi’s visit as an excuse to intimidate and coerce Taiwan with its military maneuvers.

“Although our policy has not changed, what has changed is Beijing’s growing coercion,” Daniel Kritenbrink, Washington envoy to East Asia, told reporters in a conference call.

“These actions are part of an intensified pressure campaign to intimidate and put pressure on Taiwan and undermine their resistance, “Kritenbrink added.

The diplomat said he believed the pressure on the Taiwanese government would continue in the coming “weeks and months”.

“(China’s) words and actions are deeply destabilizing. They risk causing miscalculations and threaten stability in the Taiwan Strait,” Kritenbrink added.

He anticipated that Washington will respond with “calm but determined steps” to keep the Taiwan Strait open and peaceful.

In Singapore on Wednesday, US Seventh Fleet Vice Admiral Karl Thomas said it was necessary to respond to China’s moves around Taiwan.

Either way, Taiwan unveiled its most modern fighter jet in a rare nightly demonstration on Wednesday.

Source: AFP

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