Source : Reuters
TAIPEI, November 11, 2026 – Taiwan said on Wednesday that Stan Shih, the founder of computer maker Acer, would represent the government at next week’s Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Shenzhen, and called on China to give a written guarantee that the Taiwanese delegation can take part on equal terms.
Presidential Office spokesperson Karen Kuo announced the appointment, Taiwan News reported, citing the official Central News Agency. President Lai Ching-te appointed Shih, Acer’s honorary chairman, as Taiwan’s envoy to the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting on November 18 and 19, Taiwan News reported, citing CNA.
Kuo said Taiwan had taken part in APEC as a full member since joining in 1991, and that equal participation was established practice and had “nothing to do with” Beijing’s “one China principle”. She said Taiwan hoped China, as this year’s host, would fulfil its responsibilities and provide a written guarantee that the delegation could attend all meetings under conditions of equality, dignity and security, according to Taiwan News and Radio Free Asia.
Shih previously represented Taiwan at the 2007 APEC summit in Sydney, making this his second appointment to the role, Taiwan News said. Kuo said his experience in international affairs and the technology industry, including artificial intelligence, the digital economy and innovation, made him well suited to the agenda in Shenzhen. President Lai hopes Shih will use that experience to present Taiwan’s views and contribute to regional trade and economic development, she said.
China’s Taiwan Affairs Office spokesperson Zhang Han said the same day that Beijing handles Taiwan’s participation “in accordance with the one-China principle and the provisions and practices of the APEC memorandum of understanding”. “As long as these practices are followed, Chinese Taipei may attend meetings,” Zhang said, using the name under which Taiwan takes part in APEC, Radio Free Asia reported.
Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on November 4 that the 1991 memorandum on Taiwan’s accession set out participation on an equal basis with other member economies and did not include Beijing’s preferred political formula. The ministry said all APEC members, including China, had supported language in the 2024 and 2025 ministerial joint statements attaching “great importance” to all members taking part “on an equal footing in all its events including Leaders’ Week”. It also said China had in 2024 given written assurance on the safety of participants and their entry and exit for APEC meetings, and called on Beijing to honour those commitments.
Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung said this month that China had sent the summit invitation by email rather than arranging for an official to deliver it in person, a departure from past practice that Taipei has protested, Radio Free Asia reported. APEC is one of the few international forums in which Taiwan takes part. APEC treats its members as economies rather than as states, which has allowed Taiwan to take part since 1991, in the same grouping as China and Hong Kong.
Taiwanese presidents do not usually attend the leaders’ meeting in person, and Taipei typically sends a former official or a business leader as its envoy. AFP reported that Shih, 81, had been selected to represent President Lai at the Shenzhen meeting.
Source: Reuters’ X; Taiwan News, Central News Agency, Taiwan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Radio Free Asia and AFP
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