The Presidential Office has expressed its "regret" at Beijing's attempts to stymie Taiwan's participation in international events, after Beijing opposed the attendance of Vice Premier Lai In-jaw (
"We will continue to try and get approval for Lai In-jaw's attendance at the APEC meeting as Taiwan's chief representative," said a Presidential Office official yesterday.
"Beijing openly forced the Brunei government to reject Taiwan's choice of representative and a Brunei government official negotiated with us personally last week ... We understand the pressure they were under now," the official said.
The Presidential Office's Public Affairs Department announced in a press release yesterday that "it is deeply regrettable" that Beijing's interference in the naming of delegation members has now placed Brunei -- the host country of the APEC summit meeting -- in a difficult position.
It said President Chen Shui-bian (
"He is regarded as the best choice for the mission by all industrial, business and academic sectors in Taiwan," the Presidential Office statement said.
"The Brunei authorities immediately accepted and acknowledged Taipei's decision," according to the news release.
"However, because of Beijing's intervention, Brunei contacted Taipei two days later to indicate Beijing's opposition and suggest that Lai's appointment puts Brunei in an awkward position."
Officials from the Presidential Office's Public Affairs Department said the government understood Brunei's position and would continue to negotiate in the hope that a solution satisfactory to the host country and Taiwan could be worked out.
"We have no intention of naming another candidate for the time being," the Presidential Office official said.
Chen had invited Koo Chen-fu (
But the 84-year-old veteran diplomat -- who attended APEC summits on behalf of former president Lee Teng-hui (李登輝) between 1995 and 1997 -- turned down Chen's offer because of what he said was his "shaky" health.
Since 1993, at the first meeting of APEC leaders held near Seattle, Beijing has pressured the conference's organizers into refusing the participation of Taiwan's president, premier or vice premier at APEC's annual summits.
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