Taiwan is to launch "countermeasures" against China after Beijing said Taiwan's participation in next year's APEC events should comply with the "one China" principle, Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) said today.
China is to host the next year's APEC meeting in Shenzhen.
Photo: Taipei Times
The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs told Reuters in a statement yesterday when asked about Taiwan's participation that Beijing would fulfill its obligations as the host, but with a specific condition.
"We would like to emphasize that the key to Chinese Taipei's participation in APEC activities lies in compliance with the 'one China' principle and the relevant APEC memorandum of understanding, rather than any safety issues," the ministry said.
Beijing's "one China" principle asserts that Taiwan is part of China, and that there is only one legitimate and sovereign state representing the whole of China, a claim repeatedly rejected by Taiwan.
Speaking on the sidelines of a legislative session today, Lin said China last year provided written assurances that it would support Taiwan's equal participation in next year's APEC Leaders' Meeting in Shenzhen and protect the safety of all participants.
However, China's latest comments had raised an "extra condition" for Taiwan's participation, apparently violating Beijing's written promises, he said.
"We will safeguard our right to participate and will work with like-minded countries to launch countermeasures," Lin said, without elaborating.
During the legislative session, Lin said that China raised the so-called "one China" principle as an "additional condition."
Beijing's written assurances were witnessed by other APEC members, but it has apparently broken its vow, he said.
He also said APEC's decisionmaking process is based on consensus, meaning all members must agree on a decision before it is adopted.
No decision under the APEC mechanism can be made without Taiwan's approval, he said, adding that the country would strongly safeguard its rights to participate.
Asked if Taiwan might choose not to attend next year's meeting, Mainland Affairs Council Deputy Minister Shen Yu-chung (沈有忠), who fielded questions during the same legislative session, said it was too early to tell.
A US Department of State spokesperson said that the US would "continue to press China for security arrangements and protocols that safeguard all participants when attending APEC meetings in China."
"APEC members accepted, by consensus, China's offer to host APEC 2026 during the 2024 APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in Peru," the unnamed spokesperson said in an e-mail.
"APEC members remain committed to all members participating on an equal footing in all APEC events, including Leaders' Week, in accordance with the Guidelines for Hosting APEC Meetings and relevant APEC conventions," the spokesperson said.
"The United States insists on the full and equal participation of all APEC member economies — including Taiwan — consistent with APEC's guidelines, rules and established practice, as affirmed by China in its offer to host in 2026," they added.
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