Taiwan Says It Will Attend Shenzhen APEC Summit on an ‘Equal Basis’ as Beijing Reaffirms One-China Framework
Taipei has requested written assurances over its participation, while Beijing says Taiwan's representatives may attend if established APEC arrangements are followed.
Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te has said the island will participate in next week's Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) leaders' summit in Shenzhen on an "equal basis," as Taipei seeks assurances from Beijing over its participation in one of the region's most important economic forums.
Lai made the remarks on Thursday while introducing Acer founder Stan Shih as Taiwan's representative to the 2026 APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting. The summit is scheduled to take place in Shenzhen on Nov. 18 and 19, bringing together leaders and representatives from the 21 APEC member economies.
Lai said APEC was an important platform for regional economic cooperation and that all participating economies should be able to interact on an equal basis. He asked Shih to communicate Taiwan's position and emphasize its role as a stable and reliable partner amid geopolitical uncertainty, energy challenges and changes in global supply chains.
The announcement was reported by Reuters and The Straits Times.
Taiwan has sought written assurances from Beijing regarding its participation. Taipei said it would request immediate correction if its representatives were subjected to unfair treatment during the summit process and argued that no member should impose unilateral political conditions that interfere with another participant's status.
Beijing, however, has reiterated that Taiwan's participation must follow the one-China principle and the rules and established practices governing APEC.
China's Foreign Ministry said Taiwan's representatives could attend meetings normally as long as the relevant arrangements were followed. The position reflects Beijing's longstanding insistence that Taiwan participates in international organizations under arrangements that do not imply recognition of it as a sovereign state.
The issue is particularly sensitive because China considers Taiwan part of its territory, while Taiwan's government maintains that the island's future should be determined by its people. Relations have remained strained, with Beijing criticizing Lai's political position and continuing military activities around the island.
APEC provides a distinctive diplomatic setting because it includes Taiwan as a participating economy, alongside China, the United States, Japan, South Korea and other economies around the Pacific Rim. Unlike organizations that use the term "member states," APEC refers to its participants as member economies, reflecting its focus on trade and economic cooperation.
Taiwan's representative is traditionally a senior business figure or former government official rather than the island's president. This arrangement allows Taiwan to participate in the forum while avoiding some of the diplomatic complications that would arise from direct presidential attendance.
Shih, who founded computer manufacturer Acer, has previously served as Taiwan's representative at an APEC summit. His appointment this year reflects Taipei's emphasis on technology, trade and business cooperation.
Taiwan is a major player in global semiconductor supply chains, particularly in the production of advanced chips used in artificial intelligence, smartphones, computers and other electronic products. Its role in the technology sector gives it considerable economic significance in discussions about supply-chain resilience and regional trade.
Lai said he wanted Taiwan to use the summit to deepen cooperation with key partners and demonstrate its contribution to regional prosperity and stability. The island is also expected to engage with representatives from the United States, Japan and other economies during the event.
For Beijing, hosting the APEC summit offers an opportunity to promote regional economic cooperation and reinforce its diplomatic position on Taiwan. The handling of Taiwan's participation will therefore be closely watched by regional governments and international observers.
The summit also comes at a time of heightened attention to China-U.S. relations, with Trump expected to attend and meet Xi. Taiwan's status, technology supply chains and regional security are likely to remain important issues in the wider diplomatic environment, even though APEC's formal agenda focuses on economic cooperation.
Whether the arrangements proceed without controversy will be an important test of the ability of APEC's members to maintain economic engagement despite political disagreements.