Taiwan has yet to decide whether to send a representative to this month’s Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) leaders’ meeting in China as Premier Cho Jung-tai seeks a formal invitation from the host.
Cho said Tuesday that Taipei was pursuing an invitation while keeping its attendance decision pending. He told lawmakers that Taiwan’s president would announce its representative at an appropriate time.
Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung said Monday that China had sent an invitation by email rather than through an envoy. Describing the message to lawmakers, Cho said it used Taiwan’s APEC designation, “Chinese Taipei,” and reached a contact who could forward it to a leaders’ representative.
APEC’s guidelines expect hosts to issue official invitations to members at least eight weeks before a meeting. They do not specify delivery by an envoy. The emailed document’s status as an official invitation is unverified; its delivery method alone does not settle whether it meets the guidance.
Taiwan joined APEC in 1991 as “Chinese Taipei.” The forum has 21 member economies. In a 2025 joint statement, APEC ministers called for every member to participate on an equal footing, including during Leaders’ Week.
China’s previous meetings as host produced different outcomes for Taiwan. Then-President Chen Shui-bian said Beijing had issued no leaders’ invitation in 2001, preventing Taiwan from attending. APEC’s records show a Chinese Taipei representative at the 2014 leaders’ meeting in China.
Cho said participation would support Taiwan’s economy and international cooperation. APEC has said artificial intelligence is expected to feature in the Shenzhen discussions. The leaders’ meeting is scheduled for Nov. 18-19.
