Taiwan must be allowed equal participation when China hosts APEC

Taiwan must be allowed full and equal participation when China hosts APEC next year, the U.S. State Department said on Wednesday, after Taipei complained that Beijing had "added a lot of conditions" to its attendance.



The Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation is one of the only international bodies Chinese-claimed Taiwan is a member of, and next November's summit in Shenzhen will come as relations between Taipei and Beijing have plummeted amid a stepped-up Chinese military pressure campaign against the island.



China's foreign ministry said this week that Taiwan's participation in APEC activities must comply with the "one China" principle, which Beijing views as meaning both sides of the Taiwan Strait belong to one country, something Taipei's government rejects.



A State Department spokesperson said that APEC members had agreed by consensus last year to China's offer to host APEC in 2026, and APEC members remain committed to all members participating on an equal footing in all APEC events.



"Our highest priority is the safety and security of U.S. citizens, and we will continue to press China for security arrangements and protocols that safeguard all participants when attending APEC meetings in China," the spokesperson said.