The government should also highlight the role of the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC), a non-governmental organization that has an official role in the APEC Economic Leaders Summit through a formal dialogue with business representatives, Lee said.
The participation of private business groups will help to bring the focus back to trade
issues, as well as inject more creativity in mapping out strategies, she said.
Taiwan Institute of Economic Research Division of International Affairs Deputy
Director Wu Fu-cheng (吳福成) suggested that the nation should adopt a flexible
strategy while participating in APEC and other international organizations to avoid
conflict with China.
Taiwanese leaders are not able to join the APEC Summits and the nation is also
excluded from APEC's foreign policy meetings — the result of pressure from China.
But the nation should not be frustrated with this treatment, Wu said.
Taiwan should
still use APEC as a platform to build contacts with member countries by organizing
APEC events, he said. The nation is not permitted to host meetings involving senior
officials.
Becoming familiar with the operation of APEC will help the nation find a niche within
the organization, which it can use to leverage its international relationships. This will
be more effective than remaining locked in disputes over the nation's sovereignty, Wu
said.
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