President taps Lin for APEC summit

Lin Hsin-yi is shown in a file photo from May. PHOTO: CHIANG YING-YING, TAIPEI TIMES

President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) has designated Lin Hsin-yi (林信義) as his envoy to the APEC leadership summit and host country, South Korea has accepted him, Presidential Office Secretary-General Yu Shyi-kun said yesterday.

Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (王金平), who had originally been tapped by Chen to be his envoy expressed his regrets that he could not go because of Seoul's objections.

"I do feel sorry since the Legislative Yuan had showed its full support for me going to the summit," he said.

Lin is the convener of the economic advisory group to the president and a former minister of economic affairs.

Yu said Lin's familiarity with economic affairs made him the best person to attend the summit, which will be held Nov 18 and 19 in Busan.

"We've notified host country, South Korea, and it does not have a problem with Lin's attendance," Yu said.

Yu noted that Lin had participated in APEC meetings for economic ministers in Brunei in 2000 and Shanghai in 2001. He said those experiences would be a plus for Lin in fighting for Taiwan's interests.

Chen told a strategy meeting yesterday afternoon that Taiwan will continue to fight for the right to participate in international affairs.

"China's recent malice in hampering Taiwan from participating in APEC freely shows its strategy aimed at directing Taiwan just to China rather than the rest of the world," Chen said. "We will significantly improve international public relations to ensure a correct understanding of the facts regarding China's malice."