By Department of International Organisations
TAIPEI, Taiwan – The United States Department of State and Republican members of the House Foreign Affairs Committee have publicly refuted highly inappropriate statements by the Chinese ministry of foreign affairs, which said that the political prerequisite for Taiwan’s involvement in Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meetings would be participating as a regional economy under the so-called “one China principle.” They have also voiced strong backing for Taiwan’s equal participation in APEC. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) expresses sincere gratitude for these expressions of support.
In response to related media inquiries, a spokesperson of the Department of State said that the United States insisted on the full and equal participation of all APEC member economies, including Taiwan, in line with APEC guidelines, rules, and established practices. The spokesperson also noted that China had made a commitment on this matter when it offered to host APEC in 2026.
In addition, Republican members of the US House Foreign Affairs Committee stated on the X platform that China had raised the bar for Taiwan’s participation in 2026 APEC despite its earlier promise to allow Taiwan’s equal participation, adding that this was the latest example of Beijing’s coercive and reckless behaviour.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung sincerely thanks the US administration and Congress for extending firm support for Taiwan’s equal participation in APEC. He emphasises that Taiwan, as a full member of APEC, enjoys the same rights as other member economies.
Minister Lin adds that China’s unilateral imposition of political conditions on Taiwan’s attendance at APEC meetings in China not only violates APEC norms, conventions, and practices but also repudiates its own commitment made during the 2024 APEC meeting in Lima.
Minister Lin stresses that Taiwan categorically rejects China’s malicious intentions in seeking to undermine and block Taiwan’s participation in APEC next year. Taiwan will coordinate with like-minded countries to jointly defend the core principle and practice that all APEC members enjoy equal status.
