China to Handle Taiwan's APEC Participation According to 'One China' Principle

The Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO) of China's State Council spokesperson Zhang Han announced today that China will handle Taiwan's participation in the APEC Trade Ministers' Meeting, scheduled to be held in Suzhou, Jiangsu Province this year, in accordance with the 'One China' principle and APEC's relevant memorandum of understanding and customary practices.

The 2026 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Trade Ministers' Meeting will take place in Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, China, from the 22nd to the 23rd. Taiwan's chief trade negotiator, John Deng, will lead a delegation comprising officials from the Office of Trade Negotiations (OTN) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

As China is the host of the 2026 APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting and related sessions, there is external concern about whether Taiwan's participation will face suppression from China.

During a regular press conference today, Zhang Han responded to related questions, stating that as the host of this year's APEC activities, China will manage Taiwan's participation based on the 'One China' principle and APEC's existing regulations and practices.

Chang Chih-hsiang, Deputy Director-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Department of International Organizations, stated on the 12th that Taiwan is an official member of APEC and has consistently sent delegations to the annual Senior Officials' Meetings, Ministerial Meetings, and the APEC Economic Leaders' Week. Taiwan's representatives have also attended the APEC Senior Officials' Meetings, Trade Ministers' Meeting, and the APEC Women's Economic Summit held in various Chinese cities this year, with plans proceeding according to Taiwan's past practice of equal participation.

Chang Chih-hsiang further explained that Taiwan joined APEC in 1991 and signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the host country, South Korea, at that time, which stipulated Taiwan's equal participation under the name 'Chinese Taipei.' When China or its allies host APEC, there is a possibility of actions that deviate from APEC norms and interfere with Taiwan's equal participation. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, along with relevant ministries, will utilize the APEC MOU or the APEC Secretariat to assert Taiwan's rights and will work with like-minded countries, employing APEC's consensus-based decision-making process, to counter China's suppression of Taiwan. (Editor: Lu Chia-jung) 1150513