Singapore has sent a special envoy to Taipei to deliver an invitation to President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) to attend this year’s leadership meeting of the APEC forum, political sources said on Monday.
The Singaporean envoy visited Taipei two weeks ago and is expected to visit again to learn who will represent Taiwan at the APEC summit scheduled for Nov. 14 and Nov. 15 in the city-state.
Because of China’s opposition, Taiwan’s president has traditionally been barred from attending the annual APEC summit and has had to name a proxy to attend on his behalf. Presenting the invitation to the president is considered a mere formality.
Former vice president Lien Chan (連戰) attended last year’s APEC summit in Peru on Ma’s behalf. He was the most senior former official to ever attend an APEC summit as the president’s envoy.
It will not be easy for Ma to name an envoy with stature higher than Lien to attend this year’s APEC meeting, one official said.
Pundits said the choice of this year’s representative at the APEC summit would be seen as a litmus test for cross-strait relations and represents a chance to strengthen Taiwan-US relations at a high level because Taiwan’s envoy will have the opportunity to meet US President Barack Obama and Chinese President Hu Jintao (胡錦濤).
An official close to Ma, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said it was still too early to talk about who will serve as his envoy.
“Many elements should be factored in, including delicate changes in cross-strait ties, the operation of the new Cabinet to be formed in early September and Chinese Nationalist Party [KMT] operations after Ma becomes party chairman in October,” the official said.
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