Apec meeting in Suzhou highlights Beijing’s balancing act on Taiwan
Quick Look
- Taiwan's top trade negotiator will attend the Apec ministerial meeting in Suzhou, China, next week.
- This rare participation amid strained cross-strait ties highlights Beijing's effort to balance its Taiwan stance with its hosting responsibilities for the forum.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
Taiwan will send its top trade negotiator to next week’s Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) ministerial meeting in mainland China, a rare occurrence since official communication was cut off in 2016. The meeting is being closely watched in Taipei due to mainland China hosting all major Apec events this year amid strained relations.
Taiwan will send its top trade negotiator to next week’s Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) ministerial meeting in mainland China – a rare occurrence since the two sides cut off official communication in 2016.
Analysts said the move suggested both sides were still trying to preserve a workable status quo within the regional forum despite worsening cross-strait tensions.
The Apec trade ministers’ meeting will be held in Suzhou, a city in Jiangsu province, between May 22 and 23. Yang Jen-ni, a minister without portfolio and chief negotiator at Taiwan’s Office of Trade Negotiations, will lead the delegation.
Advertisement
The meeting is being closely watched in Taipei because mainland China is hosting all major Apec events this year – culminating in the summit in Shenzhen in November – at a time when relations with Beijing remain deeply strained under Taiwanese leader William Lai Ching-te.
Beijing reignited concerns this week after the State Council’s Taiwan Affairs Office said on Wednesday that the mainland would handle Taiwan’s participation “in accordance with the one-China principle and relevant Apec memorandums of understanding and practices”.
Advertisement
Taipei swiftly rejected the remarks.
Advertisement
Select Voice
Select Speed
0.8x0.9x1.0x1.1x1.2x1.5x1.75x
00:0000:00
1.00 x
Open Questions
- How will Beijing specifically handle Taiwan's participation under the 'one-China principle'?
- What will be the specific outcomes or discussions at the Suzhou meeting regarding trade?
- Will this participation set a precedent for future Apec meetings or cross-strait interactions?
- What are the detailed implications of this rare participation for regional economic cooperation?
