Taiwan Must Be Allowed To Participate Equally When China Becomes Host

Photos with leaders of member states at the APEC 2025 Summit in Gyeongju, South Korea. (Wikimedia Commons/Cabinet Secretariat)

JAKARTA - Taiwan should be allowed to participate in full and equivalence when China hosts APEC next year, the US State Department said on Wednesday, after Taipei complained Beijing "added many requirements" for its participation.

Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) is the only international forum in which Taiwan, which China claims, is its member, and the upcoming November summit in Shenzhen will take place amid deteriorating relations between Taipei and Beijing amid increasing Chinese military pressure on the island.

A State Department spokesman said APEC members had agreed on a consensus last year China's offer to host APEC in 2026, with all members remaining committed to all members participating equally in all APEC events.

"Our top priority is the safety and security of US citizens, and we will continue to urge China to implement security arrangements and protocols that protect all participants while attending APEC meetings in China," the spokesperson said.

"The United States demands full and equal participation from all APEC member countries including Taiwan, referred to as the "Chinese Taipei" in APEC in accordance with APEC's guidelines, rules and practices, as confirmed by China in its bid to host in 2026," he continued.

China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Earlier, China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said this week Taiwan's participation in APEC activities must comply with the principles of "one China", which Beijing views means the two sides of the Taiwan Strait are under one country, something the Taipei Government has rejected.

Taiwan participated in APEC under the name "Chinese Taipei" and did not send its president to the summit, to avoid political issues.

The democratically elected Taiwanese government says China has no right to speak on behalf of or represent the island on the international stage.

No APEC member has formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan.

The last time China hosted the APEC summit in 2014, relations with Taiwan were much better under the leadership of then-President Ma Ying-jeou, who signed an important trade and tourism agreement with Beijing.

However, in 2001, Taiwan boycotted the APEC Summit in China after a dispute over who they could send.