Wang Jin-pyng briefed by NSC about APEC trip

The National Security Council (NSC) briefed Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (王金平) yesterday on next month's APEC summit even though host country South Korea has urged the government to send another candidate with a background in economic affairs.

In response to media inquiries, council Secretary-General Chiou I-jen (邱義仁) said that the Presidential Office has run through a "what-if" scenario to react to possible developments in relation to naming Wang as the president's envoy to the Busan summit.

Cabinet have prepared for the worst-case scenario in this regard, but the government will not let go any opportunity to make every possible effort, officials said.

Presidential Office Deputy Secretary-General James Huang (黃志芳) again defended President Chen Shui-bian's (陳水扁) decision to name Wang, saying that Beijing has no right to exert pressure on the South Korea to block Wang's attendance.

The council briefing was attended by officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Economic Affairs and other agencies.

Officials the foreign and economic ministries had briefed Wang earlier yesterday on possible countermeasures to any efforts Beijing might make to block his going to Busan.

While South Korea has said that it would not accept Wang as Taiwan's envoy, the legislative speaker is still Chen's top pick.

While Choiu declined to comment on whether the government has other candidates, Huang said the Presidential Office will continue to seek support from South Korea for Wang.

It is said that Seoul rejected Wang partly because it doesn't want to provoke Beijing, which is playing an important role in the six-nation talks on North Korea's nuclear weapons program.

Huang that the government can understand that South Korea is in a predicament because the six-party talks are very important to it, but the appointment of Wang is fair, reasonable and legal.