Taiwan says China has added conditions to its attendance at APEC summit

FILE PHOTO: Tourists take photos as a Taiwan flag flies, with China's Xiamen in the background, on Dadan Island, in Kinmen, Taiwan, October 18, 2025. REUTERS/Ann Wang/File Photo
TAIPEI: Taiwan's foreign minister said on Wednesday that China has "added a lot of conditions" to its attendance at next year's APEC summit in the Chinese city of Shenzhen and gone back on a commitment to allow "equal" participation.
AI Brief
- China imposes numerous conditions on Taiwan's participation in next year's APEC summit in Shenzhen, contradicting a prior commitment to ensure equal participation and safety of attendees.
- Taiwan, under the name "Chinese Taipei," participates in APEC but does not send its president to avoid political issues, as no APEC member has formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan.
- Taiwan vows to defend its rights and collaborate with like-minded nations in response to China's actions, highlighting the strained relations between Taipei and Beijing amid increased Chinese military pressure on the island.
Taiwan says it had been promised by China last year the right to "equal participation" and that the safety of its people attending would be guaranteed.
China's foreign ministry said this week that Taiwan's participation in APEC activities must comply with the "one China" principle, which Beijing views as meaning both sides of the Taiwan Strait belong to one country, something Taipei's government rejects.
Speaking to reporters at parliament, Taiwan Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung said China had made promises last year at the Peru APEC summit.
"During last year's APEC meeting in Peru, when China was vying for next year's hosting rights, it made a written commitment to support Taiwan's equal participation, particularly regarding the safety of attendees," Lin said.
"China has now imposed numerous conditions on our participation in next year's APEC summit in Shenzhen, which violates that prior commitment. We will defend our rights and coordinate with like-minded nations to counter these actions."
China's foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Taiwan's democratically-elected government says China has no right to speak for or represent the island on the international stage.
Taiwan participates in APEC under the name "Chinese Taipei" and does not send its president to summits, to avoid political problems.
No APEC member has formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan.
China refuses to talk to Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te, saying he is a "separatist".
The last time China hosted an APEC summit in 2014, relations with Taiwan were much better under then-president Ma Ying-jeou, who signed landmark trade and tourism deals with Beijing.
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