The United States and Taiwan began talks on Wednesday to strengthen their commercial ties, in a challenge to Beijing, which considers the island as part of mainland China and rejects any official relationship it establishes with other countries.
This announcement comes two days after 30 Chinese planes entered the air defense zone of Taiwan, an island that Beijing has promised to annex, even by force if necessary.
The start of these trade talks threatens to provoke a strong reaction from the Chinese government.
US Deputy Trade Representative Sarah Bianchi and Taiwanese Minister without Portfolio John Deng held talks virtually on Tuesday to “develop concrete ways to deepen” their economic and trade relationship, according to a statement from Taiwan’s Trade Representative. USA (USTR).
The first meeting will be held “later this month in Washington under the auspices of Tecro,” Taipei’s economic and cultural representative office in the United States, and the American Institute of Taiwan (AIT).
Tecro represents Taiwan interests in the United States in the absence of formal diplomatic relations.
The goal of the initiative launched on Wednesday is to facilitate trade, adopt “sound and transparent practices” and cooperate on environmental action,” the USTR said, as well as “explore agreements to facilitate agricultural trade” and fight corruption.
Washington and Taipei had indicated last week their decision to strengthen trade relations.
The United States and Taiwan have been linked since 1994 by a trade and investment “framework.”
Taipei also entered the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 2002, which has contributed to the growth of bilateral trade. In fact, the United States is Taiwan’s largest partner and arms supplier.
The next step in the economic relationship would be a formal trade agreement, which is delayed due to the complex political context.
“I hope that this initiative will lead to a binding framework agreement,” a US administration official said in a conference call with reporters.
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The United States, like most countries, does not officially recognize Taiwan, but it strongly supports the island’s “democratic” status in contrast to what it sees as China’s “autocracy.”
This initiative also comes shortly after the announcement of a new Asia-Pacific economic partnership, presented on May 23 by the US president, Joe Bidenduring a tour of Asian territory.
The Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) is not a free trade agreement, but it aims to offset the weight of China by facilitating integration between its signatory countries through the adoption of common standards in the digital sector, supply chains, green energy and the fight against corruption.
Beijing, which felt deliberately excluded, said that Washington intends to “form small cliques in the name of freedom and openness” in the hope of “containing China”.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi criticized the US project as “doomed” to fail.
Taiwan is not yet part of the IPEF, but a senior US official said it was not excluded. “We did not include Taiwan in the initial launch. However, in the future, we intend to take a flexible approach to participation in IPEF,” he told reporters.
This official recalled Washington’s “longstanding one-China policy” but said the Biden administration also has a “strong unofficial relationship with Taiwan that we are committed to deepening.”