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Rishi Sunak has rejected Liz Truss’s calls for Taiwan to be fast-tracked into a trans-Pacific trading bloc.
The UK is in the process of joining the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), which includes countries like Canada, New Zealand, Australia, Chile and Japan.
Both China and Taiwan have applied to join the bloc as well, leading to political difficulties for the two administrations, building on existing tensions.
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Speaking during her controversial visit to Taiwan, former prime minister and foreign secretary Ms Truss made the case for Taiwan to be fast-tracked into the CPTPP.
But talking to journalists ahead of a G7 summit in Japan, Mr Sunak said that while he had not “actually seen the details” of Ms Truss’s speech, “I tell you that our approach to Taiwan is long-standing and it hasn’t changed”.
He added: “And again, it’s an approach that is completely aligned in substance and in language with all our allies.”
Allowing Taiwan into CPTPP would anger the Chinese Communist Party, which sees the island as part of its territory – with growing concerns they will take the republic by force.
A recent visit by US politician Nancy Pelosi to the island led to the CCP hosting numerous military drills.
Pushed on whether he would back Taiwan joining CPTPP, Mr Sunak said: “I think that we have a very strong, unofficial relationship with Taiwan as our allies do.
“I think that our position is united and aligned with our allies, and will continue.”
Ms Truss has also called for an “economic…
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