台湾の申請、閣僚が相次ぎ歓迎　加入は「協定上可能」―ＴＰＰ

　台湾が環太平洋連携協定（ＴＰＰ）に加入申請したことについて２４日、関係閣僚から閣議後記者会見などで歓迎する発言が相次いだ。加藤勝信官房長官は午前の記者会見で「台湾は緊密な経済関係を有する極めて重要なパートナーだ」と強調。梶山弘志経済産業相も「交渉入りを予断するものではないが、まずは歓迎したい」と応じた。
　台湾のＴＰＰ加入申請をめぐっては、１６日に加入を正式に申請したばかりの中国が「（台湾は中国からの）独立を画策している」などと反発を強めている。
　これに対し、ＴＰＰ担当の西村康稔経済再生担当相は「協定は新規加入の対象を国または独立の関税地域と規定している」と指摘。その上で、「台湾による加入は協定上可能だと認識している」と述べた。（2021/09/24-13:24）

Japanese ministers welcomed on Friday Taiwan's application to join the Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade deal.
   "Taiwan is an extremely important partner that has a close economic relationship (with Japan)," Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato told a news conference.
   "We would like to welcome (Taiwan's bid for TPP membership) for now," Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Hiroshi Kajiyama said while refraining from commenting on whether negotiations on Taiwan's participation in the multilateral trade deal will actually be kicked off.
   China, which made on Sept. 16 a formal application to join the TPP, is frustrated at Taiwan's bid, announced Wednesday, claiming that Taiwan is seeking to become independent of China.
   Japanese economic revitalization minister Yasutoshi Nishimura, who is responsible for the TPP, pointed out that the pact stipulates that a member should be a country or an independent tariff region. "We think that Taiwan's entry to the TPP is possible" under its rules, he said.