Taiwan wants president to attend APEC summit

Taiwan wants president to attend APEC summit

TAIPEI (Reuter): Taiwan said yesterday it wanted its president to attend the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum's summit meeting in Jakarta later this year despite reports of opposition from Beijing.

"We are an APEC member and we should have the right to ask for our president's attendance at the summit," Foreign Ministry spokesman Rock Leng said by telephone.

President Lee Teng-hui did not attend the 1993 APEC summit in Seattle last November and sent a representative, saying he did not want to embarrass the United States, with which the island does not have diplomatic ties.

China, Taiwan and Hong Kong joined APEC in 1991 but China has flatly opposed participation by top officials from Taiwan or Hong Kong at APEC summits.

"We have not yet received any information from Indonesia, but we will seek support from Indonesia as well as from other member nations," Leng said. The summit is expected to be held in Jakarta in November.

Taiwan newspapers have reported that Indonesia, under pressure from China, would not invite Lee to the summit.

APEC, a potentially powerful trade body, groups 17 Pacific Rim countries including the United States, Taiwan, China, Australia and Southeast Asian nations.

China considers Taiwan and Hong Kong part of its territory and has frequently blocked Taiwan from participating in international meetings.