GIO says APEC options still open

The Government Information Office (GIO) emphasized yesterday that boycotting the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit is only one of a number of options being pursued to fight for President Chen Shui-bian's (陳水扁) participation this month.

"We are looking at every scenario. Boycotting is one option, but that doesn't necessarily mean we won't send a representative to attend the conference," said Su Cheng-ping (蘇正平), director-general of the GIO.

Chen made it clear in May that he would like to attend the Oct. 20 through Oct. 21 meeting and hold talks with Chinese President Jiang Zemin (江澤民).

China, which considers Taiwan a renegade province, has declined Chen's proposal.

Minister of Economic Affairs Lin Hsin-i (林信義) told a Chinese-language broadcast station during an interview yesterday that Taiwan was considering boycotting the APEC summit if it was not treated with respect.

Lin said that Beijing had ignored Chen's demand that he be allowed to attend the conference by not sending a formal invitation.

According to APEC's established practices, the host country has to send an envoy to deliver a formal invitation to the presidents of the organization's member countries.

China, however, only sent a faxed invitation in May to Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs to inform Taiwan about the summit.

Zhu Bangzao (朱邦造), an official spokesman for China's foreign ministry, said that China would send a formal invitation to Taiwan following Taiwan's finalization on its representation last week.

"Chen Shui-bian cannot visit Shanghai for the APEC meeting," Zhu said clearly in the ministry's press conference last week.