Labor minister says no 'downgrading' at China APEC meeting

Taipei, Sept. 22 (CNA) Labor Minister Hung Sun-han (洪申翰) said Tuesday that Taiwan was not subjected to any "downgrading" during his participation in an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) ministerial meeting in China and was granted the same rights as other members.

"During our participation in the meeting, we did not encounter any so-called downgrading," Hung told reporters after arriving at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport from Nanjing on Tuesday afternoon.

Hung attended the eighth APEC Human Resources Development Ministerial Meeting in Nanjing on Monday, becoming the first ministry head in President Lai Ching-te's (賴清德) administration to travel to China.

Speaking after the three-day trip, Hung said that "through our continued insistence and with the assistance of the APEC Secretariat, the Chinese side granted us rights equal to those of other members in accordance with APEC rules."

That was consistent with Taiwan's insistence on "reciprocal dignity," Hung said, referring to a principle he had laid out before departing for China for APEC, one of the few major international forums in which Taiwan, under the name "Chinese Taipei," is a formal member.

The minister also confirmed that he neither applied for nor used a "Taiwan compatriot permit" -- a travel document issued by China to Taiwanese nationals, whose passports Beijing does not recognize for travel to China -- for the trip.

"I did not apply for one, nor did I use one," Hung said. "We followed the usual practice and entered China using an invitation letter," referring to the arrangements for Taiwanese officials attending APEC meetings in China.

Asked whether the nameplate reading "Chinese Taipei" in front of him at the meeting constituted downgrading, Hung reiterated that Chinese Taipei is Taiwan's formal membership name in APEC.

"What we really need to insist on is that, as a formal APEC member, we enjoy the same rights as other members," he said.

Hung's trip to China drew attention as a rare cross-strait visit by a Cabinet-level official from Taiwan's ruling, independence-leaning Democratic Progressive Party amid strained ties between Taipei and Beijing.

Ahead of Hung's trip, China's Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO) said on Sept. 2 that Beijing would handle Taiwan's participation according to its "one China" principle, relevant APEC memorandums and established practices.

TAO spokesperson Zhang Han (張晗) said Beijing's position on Taiwan-related issues at APEC had been "consistent and clear," referring to what she called the "Taiwan region's participation."

Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council rejected that framing the same day, saying Taiwan's status as a full APEC member could not be downgraded or made conditional on Beijing's "one China" principle, and calling on China, as this year's host, to ensure equal participation for all members.