Taiwan's APEC representative says no handshake or dialogue with China's Xi

17/11/2024 12:08

        Lin Hsin-i, Taiwan's representative at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum in Lima, said on Saturday that he greeted China's President Xi Jinping with a wave, but there was no handshake or conversation, a sign of the tensions between Taipei and Beijing.
        
        Taiwan, which takes part in APEC as "Chinese Taipei" and does not send its president to summits due to China's objections, has faced increased military pressure from Beijing, including four rounds of war games since 2022.
        
        The forum is one of the few international meetings both Taiwan and China take part in, and where officials from the two sides can interact, even if just to exchange pleasantries.
        
        Speaking at a press conference, Lin, chairman of government-backed investment fund Taiwania Capital and also a former economy minister, said that while Taiwan had bilateral talks with many APEC members, with Xi there was just a greeting gesture across the room where leaders were gathered.