Canadian Parliamentarians Support Taiwan’s Inclusion in Pacific Trade Pact

Scores of parliamentarians and federal officials attended the “Taiwan Night” event in Ottawa on May 7, voicing support for the island nation’s participation in international organizations. Taiwan, known for its commitment to democracy, faces persistent political pressure and military coercion from Beijing. Taiwan’s representative, Ho-jen Tseng, urged its inclusion in the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), as Canada assumes the rotating chairmanship of the 11-member organization this year. The CPTPP is a free trade agreement between Canada and countries in the Indo-Pacific region, including Australia, Japan, and New Zealand. “Taiwan and Canada are natural allies with alike values. We [believe in] free, open, democratic, and inclusive market systems,” he said at the event held in the Sir John A Macdonald Building. “With Taiwan’s inclusion in this trade bloc, we stand ready to contribute to a more resilient global supply chain, strengthen the market free from economic coercion, and foster a transparent system where confidence abounds and our enterprises can all flourish and thrive.”...