Labor Minister Heads to China for APEC Meeting

Nanjing: Labor Minister Hung Sun-han flew to Nanjing, China, on Sunday for an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) ministerial meeting, becoming the first Cabinet official in President Lai Ching-te's administration to visit China. Hung arrived at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport at around 4 p.m. before boarding a flight to Nanjing, where he is scheduled to attend the APEC Human Resources Development Ministerial Meeting on Monday. Facing reporters waiting at the airport, Hung declined to make any comments, offering only a brief wave and saying, "Thank you for your hard work." According to Focus Taiwan, Hung emphasized on Tuesday that APEC is a significant multilateral economic forum and that Taiwan has long engaged in APEC in a professional manner. He stated that Taiwan's participation in APEC is guided by the principles of equality and reciprocal dignity and that it will continue to take part in accordance with APEC rules without imposing unnecessary restrictions on itself. Meanwhile, Luo Wen-jia, s ecretary-general of the semi-official Straits Exchange Foundation, mentioned on Friday that Hung's trip was part of Taiwan's long-standing practice of taking part in APEC activities and was undertaken to fulfill official duties. Taiwan participates in APEC as a full member under the name "Chinese Taipei." Despite this, Taiwan's president has not been able to attend the APEC Leaders Summit due to Beijing's objections, and envoys have been sent in the president's place. There have been concerns about Taiwan's ability to participate in APEC activities this year because they are being held in China, with the Leaders Summit taking place in Shenzhen in November. Beijing and Taipei have had little official interaction, including visits of Cabinet officials, since the Democratic Progressive Party took power in 2016.