Ray Ming-Tse Lu, Director-General of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Melbourne, recently published an op-ed in The Strategist, the policy platform of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI). The article, titled “Why Taiwan Matters to Australia’s Indo-Pacific Future,” underscored that Taiwan is not only a vital economic partner but also an indispensable source of stability in Australia’s regional strategy, stressing that as Australia holds the chairmanship of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) in 2025, now is the critical time to support Taiwan’s accession.
The article noted that much of the Taiwan–Australia relationship has been built through enduring links in education, business, and diaspora networks—connections that are tangible and deeply valued. Taiwan ranks among the world’s top 20 economies, leads in semiconductor manufacturing, and is pioneering in digital and green innovation, while remaining a resilient democracy that engages constructively despite external pressure.
Lu also pointed to a December 2024 public forum at the State Library of Victoria, where Federal Senator Raff Ciccone and former Victorian Minister Luke Donnellan voiced strong support for Taiwan’s CPTPP accession, urging the Australian government to actively push for it.
The article emphasized that supporting Taiwan is not about “taking sides” but about upholding standards and fostering resilient trade. Taiwan does not ask to be spoken for—it only asks to be heard. When Australia listens, it finds not a provocateur but a practical, trustworthy partner. Deepening the partnership, Lu concluded, will help build a free, open, and prosperous Indo-Pacific.
