Taipei, Aug. 25 (CNA) Former U.S. Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg expressed support for Taiwan's inclusion in the proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade bloc during a security dialogue in Taipei Tuesday.

It will be in the interest of not just Taiwan, but also of the region and the world as a whole, he said, while taking questions on Taiwan's bid to join the U.S.-led trade bloc for the Asia-Pacific region.

"I strongly support the idea -- Taiwan's inclusion in the TPP," he said, but added that Taiwan has to be ready and prepared to accept the high standards of the trade agreement, which is still under negotiation.

From the American perspective, he said, Washington should be open and welcome Taiwan's participation.

The TPP is currently being negotiated by the U.S. and 11 other countries -- Japan, Australia, Peru, Malaysia, Vietnam, New Zealand, Chile, Singapore, Canada, Mexico and Brunei.

Taiwan has repeated its wish to join the TPP. The U.S. government has welcomed its interest, adding that no new member will be accepted before the 12 countries complete the first round of negotiations.

Steinberg was invited to give a keynote speech at the Taiwan-U.S.-Japan Trilateral Security Dialogue.

The dialogue brought together lawmakers from Taiwan and the United States, as well as local and foreign experts and scholars from Japan, Australia, India, Indonesia, South Korea, New Zealand, Singapore, Vietnam, the Philippines and the U.S., to discuss security and economic issues, the organizers said.

The one-day event was co-organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Chinese Council of Advanced Policy Studies in Taipei, the Washington-based Heritage Foundation, and the Japan Institute of International Affairs.

Source: CNA

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