Key facts
- Taiwan's Labor Minister Hung Sun-han traveled to China to attend an APEC ministerial meeting.
- Hung's visit is the first by a senior cabinet official under President Lai Ching-te's administration.
- The meeting was the APEC Human Resources Development Ministerial Meeting in Nanjing.
- Taiwan participates in APEC under the name 'Chinese Taipei'.
- China's Taiwan Affairs Office stated Hung's participation would adhere to the 'one China' principle.
- Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council rejected this condition, emphasizing Taiwan's equal membership.
Taiwan's Labor Minister Hung Sun-han traveled to Nanjing, China, on September 20 to attend an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Human Resources Development Ministerial Meeting. This marks the first visit to China by a senior cabinet official under President Lai Ching-te's administration, occurring amid heightened military and political pressure from Beijing on Taipei.
Hung stated that he would participate under the forum's established rules and practices, emphasizing that APEC is an important multilateral cooperation mechanism where Taiwan can participate as a formal member with "equal participation" and "equal dignity." He described the trip as an opportunity to share Taiwan's experiences and views on labor and workforce policies.
China's Taiwan Affairs Office spokesperson Zhang Han said Beijing would handle Hung's participation in accordance with its "one China" principle and relevant APEC memorandums. Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) rejected this stance, asserting that Taiwan is a full APEC member whose status cannot be conditional on the "one China" principle and that China, as the host economy, has a responsibility to ensure equal participation for all members.
Hung, formerly a lawmaker for the ruling Democratic Progressive Party, had previously spoken out on human rights issues concerning Hong Kong and Tibet. He noted that arrangements for the trip had been discussed and assessed with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the MAC, and national security agencies, and that the delegation would defend its rights within APEC.
Taiwan joined APEC in 1991 under the name "Chinese Taipei." While lower-level Taiwanese officials have attended APEC events in China previously, Hung's visit is the first by a minister heading a government ministry in the Lai administration. Minister without Portfolio Yang Jen-ni led a delegation to an APEC trade ministers' meeting in Suzhou in May without reported incidents. Taiwan's president typically does not attend APEC leaders' summits, instead sending former officials or business leaders.