GLOATING: Minister Without Portfolio John Deng expressed disappointment over the food ban referendum, saying people should not take ‘pleasure’ in the ruling party’s woes
Taipei Times
Date: Dec 13, 2018
By: Stacy Hsu / Staff reporter
Minister Without Portfolio John Deng (鄧振中), head of the Office of Trade Negotiations,
Minister Without Portfolio John Deng gestures in an undated photograph.
Photo: Wang Yi-sung Taipei Times
on Tuesday said that the government would continue to improve ties with Japan and would not give up on seeking support for its bid to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).
Deng made the remarks on the sidelines of a ceremony in Taipei to celebrate Japanese Emperor Akihito’s 85th birthday on Dec. 23, where Japanese Representative to Taiwan Mikio Numata said that despite Tokyo finding the results of the Nov. 24 referendum on a ban on some Japanese food imports “rather regrettable,” it would continue to collaborate with Taipei to create a bright future for both nations.
Numata’s comments represented a minor departure from the response to the referendum of Japanese Minister of Foreign Affairs Taro Kono, who said that the results have rendered Taiwan’s chance of joining the CPTPP unlikely and that Tokyo did not rule out taking the issue to the WTO. [FULL STORY]
