David Lawder and Michael Martina

WASHINGTON (Reuters] -On Thursday, the U.S. trade representative Katherine Tai refused to confirm whether Taiwan will be invited to the Biden administration’s Indo-Pacific economy plan. The Senate was critical of Taiwan being excluded and suggested that it would have been a waste.

Taiwan expressed its wish to become a full member of the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework, (IPEF). This is part of an administration effort to combat what it calls Beijing’s growing economic and military influence in the region.

While the government claims that IPEF, which is still a fledgling entity, aims to include all members of society it does not have any publicly disclosed plans. IPEF is a flexible economic framework which would allow members to align on issues such as supply chain security, clean energy, and labor standards.

Tai stated before the Senate Finance Committee Taiwan is an essential partner. However, no decisions have been made about membership.

Tai stated, “On Taiwan’s point, we are generally in conversation with those who would like to join this framework,” Tai told Senator Bob Menendez when asked whether the island would accept the invitation.

Tai, a U.S.-born child of Taiwanese immigrants, said that “Participation to the IPEF remains under consideration and as far as my knowledge no decisions have been taken.”

Menendez said that China claimed the democratically-governed islands as a strategic and trading partner. This was intertwined in American economic security.

He said, “It is clear from the answer that Taiwan will not be included in the IPEF. This misses an opportunity.”

This exchange came after a March 30, 2003, letter sent by 200 Congressmen from both sides, including Republicans Liz Cheney and Liz McCaul and Democrats Ted Lieu and Ro Khanna.

Representatives of the People’s Republic of China said that Taiwan’s inclusion “would also send a clear message that the United States stands alongside its allies, partners, and won’t be bullied by The People’s Republic of China.”

The letter https://sires.house.gov/sites/sires.house.gov/files/documents/Taiwan%20IPEF%20Final.pdf was posted on the official Congress website of Democratic Congressman Albio Sires, who also signed it.

Some analysts believe Taiwan joining the plan will make other countries of the region nervous about it. This could lead to Beijing being upset, who opposes the idea.

According to two sources who were privy to the meeting, Raimondo stated last week to members of Senate Finance Committee that Taiwan was not being considered for inclusion.

Source: “It speaks to a wider issue that sometimes our trade agenda just out of sync with our foreign policy agenda,” said one source.

Commerce Department referred Reuters’ request for comment (Reuters Request for Comment) to White House National Security Council. They also stated that no decision had been taken on the matter.

Although Taiwan’s De-facto Embassy in Washington refused to respond to Raimondo’s comments, a spokesman stated: “Regarding IPEF. Taiwan continues to exchange opinions with the U.S. via existing economic, trade, and channel mechanisms.”

Although it does not have official ties to Washington, Taiwan has one of Asia’s most dynamic democracies, economies and semiconductor producers that are crucial for global supply chains.