The two authorities across the Taiwan Straits applied to join a trans-Pacific trade agreement. The Beijing side tried to obstruct Taiwan’s application, while Taipei defended its right to be included in the regional pact. On Sept. 22, the Chinese regime sent 24 warplanes to Taiwan Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ), which was understood as a threat to apply pressure against Taiwan’s inclusion. The Taiwan government reiterated its willingness to join despite Bejing’s threats and said it wouldn’t give in. Can China and Taiwan finally join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP)? The decision will be made by the 11 CPTPP member states, which include Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, and Vietnam. Each of them will have informal engagements with the applicants before making their decisions. Only after receiving the approval of all member states can the applicants join the trade partnership. …