Taiwan is taking part in APEC China summit on an 'equal basis,' president says

Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te stated that his island nation will participate in this year's Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summit in China on an equal basis, following a request for a written guarantee from Beijing. The summit, hosted by China in the southern city of Shenzhen, has strained relations between Taiwan and China.

China denies Taiwan's sovereignty and maintains military presence in the region. Lai, rejecting Beijing's claims, emphasized Apec's role as the most significant multilateral platform for regional trade and economic cooperation.

At the presidential office in Taipei, Lai introduced Stan Shih, the founder of computer maker Acer, as Taiwan's envoy to the summit. He thanked countries that consistently advocated for Taiwan's participation in Apec meetings, without naming them. China's foreign ministry clarified that Taiwan's involvement in Apec aligns with the one-China principle and relevant Apec memorandums of understanding, allowing representatives to attend meetings as usual.

Lai expressed his desire for Shih to convey several messages during the summit, including Taiwan's commitment to fostering stability and trustworthiness in the global economy amid geopolitical, energy, and supply chain challenges. Taiwan typically sends former officials or business executives to Apec to avoid potential political issues, often engaging in brief interactions such as handshakes or waves with high-ranking delegates from friendly nations like the United States and Japan.

The upcoming meeting in Shenzhen will also see a US-China summit involving US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping.