Taiwan Labor minister to attend APEC meeting in China

Taipei, Sept. 2 (CNA) Labor Minister Hung Sun-han (洪申翰) said Tuesday he will travel to Nanjing later this month for an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) ministerial meeting, which will make him the first ministry head in President Lai Ching-te's (賴清德) administration to visit China.

Speaking at a Ministry of Labor event in Taipei, Hung told reporters he had received a formal invitation to attend the APEC Human Resources Development Ministerial Meeting on Sept. 21 and would participate under the forum's established rules and practices.

"APEC is an important international multilateral cooperation mechanism in which Taiwan is able to participate as a formal member," Hung said, adding that "equal participation" is a core principle of the forum.

He said the meeting's location would not change Taiwan's approach to international participation, describing the trip as an opportunity to share Taiwan's experience and views on labor and workforce policies.

Hung served as a lawmaker for the ruling, independence-leaning Democratic Progressive Party before becoming labor minister in November 2024. During his time in the Legislature, he spoke out on human rights and political issues concerning Hong Kong and Tibet, both sensitive subjects for Beijing.

Asked about potential security concerns, Hung said arrangements for the trip had been discussed and assessed with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) and relevant national security agencies.

Describing the itinerary as "straightforward," Hung said the delegation would clearly state and defend its rights within APEC regardless of what situations arise.

"As a formal member, we have the right to equal participation and equal dignity," he said.

Hung also attended last year's APEC Human Resources Development Ministerial Meeting on Jeju Island, South Korea.

Taiwan joined APEC under the name "Chinese Taipei" in 1991 and has since participated at the forum under that name.

Hung's upcoming trip will mark the first visit to China by a minister heading a government ministry in the Lai administration amid strained cross-Strait relations, although other senior officials have traveled there for APEC meetings.

In May, then-Minister without Portfolio and trade representative Yang Chen-ni (楊珍妮) led a delegation to the APEC trade ministers' meeting in Suzhou, where the visit proceeded smoothly without any reported incidents.

TAO, MAC trade barbs over APEC participation

China's Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO) spokesperson Zhang Han (張晗) said Wednesday that Beijing would handle Hung's participation at the APEC meeting in accordance with its "one China" principle, relevant APEC memorandums and established practices.

Zhang said Beijing's position on Taiwan-related issues at APEC has been "consistent and clear," and that matters concerning what she called the "Taiwan region's participation" would be handled under those principles and practices.

Later in the day, Taiwan's MAC rejected the TAO position, saying Taiwan is a full APEC member whose status cannot be downgraded or made conditional on any so-called "one China" principle.

"As this year's APEC host economy, China has a responsibility to ensure the right of every member to participate on an equal footing," MAC said.

（By Wu Hsin-yun, Lu Chia-jung, Li Ya-wen and Sunny Lai）Enditem/AW