Taiwan-China Relations

Analysis: Taiwan's Participation at APEC in China

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By Kris Ma/Tiffany Wong

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Taiwan's labor minister reports having a smooth trip after returning from an APEC ministerial meeting in Nanjing, China. Despite the host country's usual objections to Taiwan's participation in international spaces, Taiwan was able to maintain its participation under the name Chinese Taipei in this year's APEC. NCCU Professor Ding Shuh-fan says that because the meeting is organized by APEC, not China, Beijing must honor their rules for Taiwan's participation. He says it's still important for Taiwan to participate and take the opportunity to hold sideline meetings with other participating economies, including the US. Now, attention turns to who President Lai Ching-te will select as his special envoy to the APEC leaders' meeting in Shenzhen in November.

Taiwan Labor Minister: Delegation Treated Equally at APEC Meeting in China

REPORTER:  
Taiwan's labor minister says his delegation was treated equally and with dignity at a recent APEC meeting in China.

Hung Sun-han (LABOR MINISTER):  
As the host [for this APEC meeting] China did make arrangements to grant us the same rights as other member economies including equal participation in every session.

REPORTER:  
Speaking on the radio, Labor Minister Hung Sun-han said Taiwan's participation in APEC should not depend on which country hosts its meetings. Hung is the first Taiwanese cabinet-level official to travel to China in a decade of Democratic Progressive Party rule. Attention now turns to whom President Lai Ching-te will appoint as his special envoy to the APEC leaders’ meeting mid-November in Shenzhen, China.

REPORTER:  
Labor Minister Hung Sun-han says his delegation was treated equally and with dignity at an APEC ministerial meeting in China.

Hung Sun-han (LABOR MINISTER):  
As the host [for this APEC meeting] China granted us and other member economies equal rights and arrangements including [access] to the meetings and the opportunity for equal participation in every session.

REPORTER:  
In a radio interview, Hung said that Taiwan should continue participating in APEC, regardless of the host country. His visit had faced controversy as he became the first cabinet minister to travel to China in a decade of Democratic Progressive Party rule. However, he said that his visit does not indicate that travel to China is safe. Now, attention turns to who President Lai Ching-te will assign as his special envoy to the APEC leaders’ meeting mid-November in Shenzhen.