Taiwan sends Acer founder Stan Shih to APEC in China, seeks written guarantee
Shih, 81, who was Taiwan's envoy at the 2007 APEC summit in Sydney, will attend next week's leaders' meeting in Shenzhen.
Taiwan has named Acer founder Stan Shih as its envoy to next week's Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation leaders' summit in the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen. Shih also represented the island at APEC in 2007, when the summit was held in Sydney, The Straits Times and CNA reported on Wednesday (Nov 11).
Taipei also asked Beijing, this year's host, for a written assurance that its delegation would take part on an equal footing, according to The Straits Times, which carried a Reuters report.
Shih, 81, is a former chief executive and chairman of the personal computer maker. CNA said he was picked to represent President Lai Ching-te because China insists Taiwan is part of its territory and not a separate nation. The Straits Times reported that Taiwan usually sends former officials or business executives to APEC to avoid political problems. Those envoys generally use the summit to talk with senior delegates from friendly countries such as the United States and Japan.
Presidential Office spokeswoman Karen Kuo announced the appointment and said Taiwan had continued to take part in all APEC meetings on an equal basis. "This is standard APEC practice and has nothing to do with the so-called 'one-China principle'," she said, as quoted by The Straits Times. She said Taiwan hoped China would "fulfil its responsibilities as host and provide a written guarantee" that its delegation could attend all meetings "under conditions of equality, dignity and security".
Earlier on Wednesday, China's Taiwan Affairs Office said Beijing handles Taiwan's participation in line with the one-China principle and the provisions and practices of the APEC memorandum of understanding. "As long as these practices are followed, Chinese Taipei may attend meetings," spokeswoman Zhang Han said. China's foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment, The Straits Times reported.
CNA said Taiwan has been a full APEC member since 1991 under the name "Chinese Taipei". The grouping is one of the few international bodies that include the island. Beijing claims Taiwan as its own territory and opposes its participation in international organisations. Taipei rejects the claim and says only the island's people can decide their future. Neither government formally recognises the other.
Relations between the two sides are extremely tense, The Straits Times reported. China refuses to talk to Lai, calling him a "separatist", and its military operates around the island daily. Taiwan's labour and finance ministers attended APEC meetings in China this year without incident. But Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung said this month that Beijing sent the summit invitation by email rather than having an official deliver it in person.
US President Donald Trump is expected to hold his third meeting of the year with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Shenzhen during the summit.
Sources: The Straits Times, Taiwan appoints Acer founder as APEC envoy, calls for written guarantees from China; CNA, Taiwan sends Acer's Stan Shih to represent it at APEC summit in China.
