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.