TAIPEI (Reuters) – China is an “arch criminal” intent on bullying Taiwan and has no right to oppose or comment on its bid to join a pan-Pacific trade pact, Taiwan’s government said in an escalating war of words over Taipei and Beijing’s decision to apply.

Chinese-claimed Taiwan announced Wednesday that it applied for membership in the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership. (NYSE:) This announcement came less than a week after China had submitted its application.

China’s Foreign Ministry declared it was against Taiwan “entering any official treaty, organisation”, while Taiwan on Thursday claimed that China has sent 24 military aircraft to the island’s Air Defense Zone. It is part of what Taipei claims is a nearly daily pattern of harassment.

The Taiwanese Foreign Ministry stated late Thursday that China has “no right” to comment on Taiwan’s request.

It stated that the Chinese government “only wants to bully Taiwan within the international community” and was the main reason for increased hostilities across Taiwan Strait.

The ministry stated that China does not belong to the CPTPP, and that its trade system is incompatible with the highest standards set by the bloc.

It stated that China had sent an air force to threaten Taiwan within a few hours of the announcement.

The statement stated, “This behavior pattern could only be attributed to China.”

China’s Taiwan Affairs Office also released a statement late Thursday which stated that China’s accession to the CPTPP will benefit post-pandemic world economic recovery.

China is opposed to Taiwan using trade in order to promote its “international spaces” or engages in independence activities.

According to it, “We expect the appropriate countries to appropriately deal with Taiwan-related issues and not offer convenience or provide an opportunity for Taiwan independence activities.”

Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) was the 12-member original agreement. It was considered an important economic counterweight for China’s rising influence.

TPP’s fate was changed by Donald Trump, the U.S. president.

CPTPP was created to link Canada, Australia and Brunei with Chile, Japan, Malaysia (Mexico), Peru, Singapore, Vietnam, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, Singapore, and Vietnam.