Taiwan sent Shi Zhenrong to attend the Shenzhen APEC Summit, emphasizing equal participation

(Deutsche Welle Chinese website) Taiwan's Presidential Office said on Wednesday (November 11) that Shi Zhenrong, the founder of computer manufacturer Acer, will attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in China next week as a leader representative. Taiwan also demanded that Beijing fulfill written guarantees to ensure Taiwan's equal participation.

APEC is one of the few international organizations that Taiwan participates in. China claims Taiwan as its territory. China is this year's host, with a leaders' summit taking place next week in the southern city of Shenzhen.

However, Taipei's relationship with Beijing is extremely tense. China refuses to talk to Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te, calling him a "separatist" and its military operates around Taiwan on a daily basis.

When announcing Shi's appointment, Taiwan Presidential Office spokesperson Kuo Ya-hui stated that Taiwan has always participated in various APEC activities in accordance with the principle of equality.

She emphasized that equal participation is APEC's long-standing practice and has nothing to do with the so-called "one-China principle." The one-China principle refers to Beijing's position that both sides of the Taiwan Strait belong to the same country.

Guo Yahui said that APEC economies have reached a consensus on "equal participation of all members" many times in the past.

She said that Taiwan hopes that China will fulfill its responsibilities as a host economy and relevant written guarantees to ensure that the Taiwan delegation can participate in various APEC meetings under the premise of equality, dignity and safety.

China's Taiwan Affairs Office said earlier in the day that China "has always handled Taiwan's participation in the meeting in accordance with the one-China principle and the provisions and practices of the relevant APEC memorandum of understanding." As long as the above practices are followed, Taiwan can participate.

Zhang Han, spokesman for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, used the official Chinese term "Taiwan region" when referring to Taiwan.

Taiwan's democratically elected government does not accept Beijing's sovereignty claims and maintains that only the Taiwanese people can determine their own future. The governments on both sides of the Taiwan Strait do not officially recognize each other.

Taiwan's Minister of Labor and Minister of Finance have attended the APEC meeting in China this year without incident.

But Taiwan's Foreign Minister Lin Jialong said last week that China did not follow its usual practice of sending a special envoy to hand over the invitation letter in person, but instead sent it by email. Lin Jialong said that Taiwan had expressed its protest to China as soon as possible.

To avoid political problems, Taiwan usually sends former officials or business executives to serve as APEC leadership representatives. They generally use this opportunity to talk to senior members of delegations from friendly countries such as the United States and Japan.

U.S. President Trump is expected to hold his third meeting this year with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Shenzhen.

Shi Zhenrong served as the Taiwan leader's representative at the APEC Summit in Australia in 2007.