Taiwan to counter China's 'extra condition' to its APEC participation

Taipei, Nov. 5 (CNA) Taiwan will launch "countermeasures" against China after Beijing said Taiwan's participation in next year's Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) events should comply with the "one China" principle, Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) said Wednesday.

China will host the 2026 APEC meeting in Shenzhen, and its foreign ministry told Reuters in a statement Tuesday when asked about Taiwan's participation that Beijing will fulfill its obligations as the host, but with a specific condition.

"We would like to emphasize that the key to Chinese Taipei's participation in APEC activities lies in compliance with the 'one China' principle and the relevant APEC memorandum of understanding, rather than any safety issues," the foreign ministry told Reuters.

Beijing's "one China" principle asserts that Taiwan is part of China, and that there is only one legitimate and sovereign state representing the whole of China, a claim repeatedly rejected by Taiwan.

Speaking on the sidelines of a legislative session Wednesday, Lin said China had provided written assurances last year that it would support Taiwan's equal participation in the 2026 APEC Leaders' Meeting in Shenzhen and protect the safety of all participants.

Lin said, however, that China's latest comments had raised an "extra condition" for Taiwan's participation in the APEC meeting in Shenzhen, apparently violating Beijing's written promises.

"We will safeguard our right to participate and will work with like-minded countries to launch countermeasures," Lin said, without elaborating.

Commenting on the same issue during the legislative session, Lin said China raised the so-called "one China" principle as an "additional condition."

The minister said Beijing's written assurances were witnessed by other APEC members, but that apparently it has broken its vow.

He also said APEC's decision-making process is based on consensus, meaning all members must agree on a decision before it is adopted.

No decision under the APEC mechanism can be made without Taiwan's approval, he said, adding that the country will strongly safeguard its rights to participate.

When asked if Taiwan might choose not to attend next year's meeting in China, Mainland Affairs Council deputy chief Shen Yu-chung (沈有忠), who fielded questions during the same legislative session, said it was too early to tell.

Launched in 1989, APEC is an inter-governmental forum for 21 member economies in the Pacific Rim that promotes free trade throughout the Asia-Pacific region. Taiwan joined APEC in 1991 under the name "Chinese Taipei."

Asked about China putting a "one China" principle condition on Taiwan's APEC participation, a United States State Department spokesperson told CNA that the U.S. will "continue to press China for security arrangements and protocols that safeguard all participants when attending APEC meetings in China."

"APEC members accepted, by consensus, China's offer to host APEC 2026 during the 2024 APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in Peru," the unnamed spokesperson told CNA in an email.

"APEC members remain committed to all members participating on an equal footing in all APEC events, including Leaders' Week, in accordance with the Guidelines for Hosting APEC Meetings and relevant APEC conventions," the spokesperson said.

"The United States insists on the full and equal participation of all APEC member economies -- including Taiwan -- consistent with APEC's guidelines, rules and established practice, as affirmed by China in its offer to host in 2026."