Lin Hsin-i, second left, shakes hands with Joe Biden
by Martin Haffner, Staff Writer
Taiwan’s special envoy to APEC met with President Biden yesterday. Biden is set to leave office in January, when Donald Trump will return to the White House for a second term.
A photo captured Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau observing the exchange between Lin and Biden.
The annual APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting is the key event for the 21-member trade bloc, where leaders from Pacific Rim nations convene for discussions.
Taiwan, which became a member of APEC in 1991 under the designation “Chinese Taipei,” is one of the few intergovernmental organizations where it holds full membership. However, due to pressure from China, Taiwan sends special envoys instead of its president to the annual leaders’ summit.
A Biden administration official characterized the meeting as merely a “handshake” in the plenary room.
The White House has not yet commented on whether Biden intends to visit.
On Friday, Lin participated in the APEC Leaders’ Informal Dialogue in the morning, followed by a luncheon with representatives from the APEC Business Advisory Council and a dinner with other leaders, according to the ministry.
On Thursday, Lin also met with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken prior to the leaders’ meeting, discussing ways to enhance bilateral partnerships and ensure regional peace, while also addressing Taiwan’s diplomatic alliances in the area.
Blinken shared a photo of their handshake on social media, noting that their discussions included strengthening economic ties and a commitment to a peaceful and open Indo-Pacific.
Lin has previously attended APEC meetings in Brunei (2000), China (2001), and South Korea (2005) during President Chen Shui-bian’s administration.
Lin, who is a senior presidential adviser and chairman of Taiwania Capital Management Corp, served as the economic affairs minister from 2000 to 2002 and as vice premier from 2002 to 2004.
