Former vice president Vincent Siew (蕭萬長) yesterday said he would only discuss issues related to APEC with Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) should they meet at the upcoming annual leaders’ summit in the Philippines next week.
Siew, who is due to attend the APEC economic leaders’ meeting in Manila from Tuesday to Thursday next week on behalf of President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九), made the remarks at an international media briefing on his schedule.
When asked what topics would be discussed if he and Xi were to meet for the fifth time on the sidelines of the summit, Siew said the possible time, location and manner of such a meeting were being arranged by the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC).
Photo: CNA
“If we have the opportunity to meet, I may only bring up issues discussed at the APEC summit that concern cross-strait relations. Since any meeting would not last very long, it is impossible for us to cover too many issues,” Siew said.
As for territorial disputes in the South China Sea, Siew said that the government has voiced its stance on the matter multiple times and that he would reiterate that position should any APEC member put the issue forward at the summit.
“However, as far as I know, the South China Sea issue will not be mentioned at the APEC summit and it is unlikely that any member would bring up such a controversial matter and ruin the atmosphere of the meeting,” Siew said.
Siew, who has attended the leaders’ summit six times, said Ma yesterday morning instructed him and his representative team to endeavor to reinforce bilateral trade relationships and multilateral ties with other APEC members during the meeting.
Another mission Ma charged him with was to take advantage of the summit to express the government’s resolve and the Taiwanese public’s interest to join the Trans-Pacific Partnership and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, Siew said.
Siew added that he also planned to convey Taiwan’s aspirations to actively participate in the research and planning for APEC’s proposed Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific.
MAC Minister Andrew Hsia (夏立言), who is to be a member of the APEC delegation, said he would ask some follow-up questions regarding the meeting in Singapore on Saturday last week between Ma and Xi should he have the opportunity to meet with his Chinese counterpart, Taiwan Affairs Office Minister Zhang Zhijun (張志軍).
“However, Zhang told me in Singapore that his schedule is pretty packed and he was unsure if he would attend the summit,” Hsia said.
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