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Number Nine -- APEC Debacle

By Monique Chu
STAFF REPORTER
Sunday, Dec 30, 2001, Page 5

Minister of Economic Affairs Lin Hsin-yi raises his hand at a press conference following APEC's ministerial meeting in Shanghai on Oct. 18. Lin was blocked by the Chinese from clarifying Taiwan's position on its representation at the leaders' summit. TAIPEI TIMES FILE PHOTO

Taiwan found itself excluded from the APEC summit in Shanghai after China refused to extend an invitation to former vice president Li Yuan-tzu (李元簇), President Chen Shui-bian's (陳水扁) chosen envoy.

The cross-strait tug-of-war over Taipei's unresolved participation in the APEC summit in October escalated until the eve of the two-day event, with each side attacking the other for breaking their so-called APEC established protocols over Taipei's representation.

In a flare-up at a news conference during the APEC ministerial meeting on Oct. 18, Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan (唐家璇) cut short a speech being delivered by Taiwan's Minister of Economic Affairs Lin Hsin-yi (林信義).

Tang said it would be "a waste of time" to allow Lin to speak, bringing the dispute over Taipei's participation in the summit to an end, with Taiwan conceding the next day that it would not attend.

Chen then sent a letter to Pacific Rim leaders urging them to "condemn" China's refusal to allow Taipei's chosen representative to attend. The US called Taiwan's absence "a loss" for all participants.

The diplomatic row triggered mixed responses.

Nearly half of the respondents to a national Gallup poll released in late October said they were dissatisfied with the government's handling of the event, while others defended Taiwan's absence as an example of the nation's determination to safeguard its dignity.

Some foreign ministry officials said they were worried that China may pressure Mexico, the host country for next year's APEC meetings, to regard Taiwan's absence at this year's summit as an established practice, thus forcing Taiwan to be absent from the Mexican summit as well.

Overseas critics warned Taiwan that it would face further diplomatic isolation if it fails to adopt creative approaches to its participation in international organizations.
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