Key facts
- Taiwan's Finance Minister Chuang Tsui-yun will attend an APEC finance ministers' meeting in Hong Kong next week.
- The meeting is scheduled for October 20 to 21.
- Taiwan participates in APEC under the name "Chinese Taipei".
- China claims Taiwan as its own territory and has increased military and political pressure on Taipei.
Taiwan's Finance Minister Chuang Tsui-yun is set to attend a meeting of APEC finance ministers in Hong Kong next week, according to a statement from her ministry on Tuesday. The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) grouping is one of the few international bodies that includes Taiwan, which China claims as its own territory.
China, this year's host of APEC, has been increasing military and political pressure on Taipei. Beijing has rejected offers of talks from Taiwan President Lai Ching-te, labeling him a "separatist," while its military operates around Taiwan daily. Lai maintains that only Taiwan's people can decide their future.
Chuang will attend the October 20 to 21 meeting in Hong Kong "as is customary," the ministry said. Taiwan's Labour Minister, Hung Sun-han, traveled to Nanjing last month for another APEC event. The island participates in APEC under the name "Chinese Taipei." Lower-level Taiwanese officials have previously attended APEC events in mainland China. Taiwan has not yet announced its representative for the APEC leaders' summit in Shenzhen, as presidents do not typically attend, with former officials or business executives usually serving as envoys.