In another show of US support for Taiwan, Washington and Taipei will begin formal trade negotiations this fall despite warnings from China against the idea.
The office of the US Trade Representative announced the planned talks on Wednesday and said they will be conducted under the auspice of the US’s de facto embassy in Taiwan, known as the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT).
The talks will be launched under an initiative the US and Taiwan agreed to back in June. The negotiations will cover several trade issues, including deepening agriculture trade, digital trade, and removing barriers to trade.
The announcement comes amid soaring tensions between the US and Beijing that were sparked by a visit to Taiwan from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), which was followed by another congressional delegation led by Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA). China responded to Pelosi’s visit by launching its largest-ever military drills around Taiwan and has kept up the pressure on the island.
Chinese officials on Thursday denounced the US plans to launch formal trade talks with Taiwan. Like Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan, Beijing sees the trade cooperation as the US moving away from the one-China policy.
“The US must not negotiate agreements with sovereign implication or official nature with China’s Taiwan region or send any wrong signal to the ‘Taiwan independence’ separatist forces in the name of trade and economic interactions,” said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin.
Wang warned that China “will act resolutely to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity” and urged the US “not to miscalculate” on this issue.
The USTR is a China hawk, of course she’s there to raise the tensions some more. I don’t understand why Biden has to nominate hawks to even trade offices.
Because he’s a hawk.
Why did he nominate and appoint any of the people he did, all neocon, neoliberal proven failures?
Easy to understand. . .both parties want war, Biden is a Dem. and Trump is a Rep. and both did and are currently doing their part to start WWIII.
Taiwan, will become the second Ukraine. One would think watching the circus in Europe would teach them something.
The way things look, there will be no Ukraine, EU, and NATO left. The USA will become a has been hegemon monster. Biden and his gang are leading the monster over the cliff.
Taiwan could become the first Ukraine in East Asia… Russia will finish Ukraine and defeat US intentions before Taiwan conflict starts…! Russia will then help China defeat US dreams for Taiwan…!
Putin delivered a great coherent speech to the Moscow Security Conference just a few days ago, our million $$$ MSM trolls simply ignore it.
Russia and China have no choice. Putin believes Nancy did not go to Taiwan without approval. Biden is a liar, the Russians and the Chinese know it.
You’re right. Americans are clueless as to what the future will bring unless things turn around quickly, but both parties are on board with WWIII; just waiting for Russia, China or Iran to fire the first shot.
Keep dreaming.
Hard to understand why U.S. keeping poking the dragon when it needs to import so much from China.
Keep pulling the dragon’s tail and see what happens. And, what will eventually happen is the desired result of Wash.’s insanity. Where are the peace movements in America? Will it take bombed out US cities to wake Americans up as to what the state is planning for our future?