Taiwan is trailing way behind its major competitors, in particular South Korea, over expanding its network of free-trade agreements.
China holds the key to Taiwan’s entrance into regional free trade pact (RCEP)
Taipei faces a tougher challenge as Washington's recent "pivot" to Asia heightens the strategic competition between the US and China
It remains to be seen whether Taipei will soon reach a strategic crossroads where it will become increasingly difficult to maintain its close economic and security ties with the US while deepening its cooperative relationship with Beijing.