by Martin Haffner, Staff Writer
Taiwan is set to participate in the 2026 APEC summit to be hosted by China, following assurances from Beijing regarding the safety of attendees, according to Taiwanese national security sources.
The announcement about China hosting the summit was made in the APEC Leaders’ Machu Picchu Declaration released yesterday. A national security official revealed that Beijing proposed hosting the event just before this year’s APEC meeting commenced.
During the summit in Lima, leaders, including US President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping, posed for a photo together.
Concerns regarding China’s role as host were voiced by several APEC members, who felt that the communication around the decision was inadequate. Taiwan specifically raised issues about legal “guidelines” introduced by China in June that threaten severe penalties for staunch advocates of Taiwanese independence. Although Chinese courts lack jurisdiction over Taiwan, Taipei expressed fears that these guidelines could impact Taiwanese officials in China and potentially affect representatives from other APEC nations as well.
As APEC decisions require consensus, the confirmation of China as the host for the 2026 summit indicates that member nations have collectively agreed on the matter. This necessitates that Beijing address the concerns of all members and uphold commitments related to equal treatment, adherence to APEC protocols, and the safeguarding of personal safety.
National Security Council Deputy Secretary-General Hsu Szu-Chien noted that the consensus reflects Beijing’s promises to address these concerns.
Taiwan’s APEC envoy, Lin Hsin-i, mentioned that he acknowledged Xi Jinping with a wave but did not engage in a handshake or conversation, highlighting ongoing tensions between Taipei and Beijing. Taiwan refrains from sending its president to such summits due to Chinese objections. Although APEC meetings allow for limited interaction between officials from both sides, Lin emphasized that their exchange was merely a gesture of greeting.
This interaction differed significantly from Lin’s recent meeting with President Biden, which was described as a “lively” discussion. Last year, Morris Chang, founder of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co, also interacted with Biden but not with Xi. In contrast, Chang had a cordial exchange with Xi during the 2022 APEC forum in Bangkok, where they discussed personal well-being and congratulated each other on notable achievements.
