Key facts
- Taiwan's Labour Minister Hung Sun-han traveled to China on Sunday.
- Hung will attend an APEC human resources ministerial meeting in Nanjing.
- This is the first ministerial-level visit to China by President Lai Ching-te's administration.
- China views Taiwan as one of its provinces and has increased military and political pressure on the island.
- Taiwan participates in APEC as 'Chinese Taipei'.
Taiwan's Labour Minister Hung Sun-han departed on Sunday for China to attend an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) human resources ministerial meeting in Nanjing. This marks the first ministerial-level visit to mainland China by President Lai Ching-te's administration, occurring at a time of heightened military and political pressure from Beijing on Taipei.
China, which claims Taiwan as its own territory, is hosting this year's APEC leaders summit in Shenzhen in November. Beijing has rejected offers of talks from President Lai, labeling him a "separatist," while Taiwan's military operates near the island almost daily. Lai maintains that only Taiwan's people can decide their future.
The ministry confirmed Hung's departure but provided no further details. Hung, a former lawmaker for Lai's ruling Democratic Progressive Party, was known for his advocacy on human rights issues in Hong Kong and Tibet. Taiwan participates in APEC under the name "Chinese Taipei," a designation it also uses for the Olympics, though China typically refers to it as "China Taipei," despite Taiwan's objections.