TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The foreign ministry on Wednesday urged China to uphold Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation’s core principle of equal participation for all member economies.
As host of the 2026 APEC summit, China must ensure Taiwan’s equal participation in all meetings and activities in accordance with APEC guidelines, rules, practices, and prior commitments, the foreign ministry said in a statement.
The ministry emphasized that the memorandum of understanding signed by Taiwan upon joining APEC in 1991 contains no reference to the “one China” principle and stipulates that Taiwan participates in meetings and activities on an equal basis with other APEC member economies.
In the memorandum signed by China, APEC said it was “taking note of” Beijing’s claimed “one China” principle. APEC did not agree to or accept those claims, the ministry said.
“Taiwan will never accept any political manipulation aimed at downgrading or excluding its equal and dignified participation,” the ministry said, adding that Taiwan will work with like-minded partners to counter such efforts.
If China tries to interfere, Taiwan will present the memorandum of understanding to the APEC Secretariat and protect its right to participate in the conferences as an equal partner with other member economies, the foreign ministry said.
The ministry said only Taiwan’s democratically elected government has the authority to represent the 23 million Taiwanese in multilateral forums and mechanisms such as APEC, and that China has no right to interfere or comment on the matter.
Minister without Portfolio Yang Jen-ni (楊珍妮) will represent Taiwan at the May 22-23 meeting of trade ministers.
