Taiwan’s APEC envoy chatted with Biden but not Xi

SAN FRANCISCO, USA – Taiwan’s APEC envoy Morris Chang said on Friday, November 17, that he had informal interactions with US President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken at the group’s summit in San Francisco but not with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Chinese-claimed Taiwan, which takes part in the APEC forum as “Chinese Taipei” and does not send its president to summits, has faced increased military pressure from Beijing, including two rounds of major war games during the past year and a half.

Chang, the 92-year-old founder of chip giant TSMC 2330.TW, told reporters that he had also talked with US Vice President Kamala Harris on the sidelines of the US-hosted summit, a replay of their meeting last year in Thailand, where Chang also met Xi.

However, Chang said he did not talk to Xi at this year’s summit. Given both Taiwan and China are members, APEC is one of the few global forums where both side’s officials can interact, even if just to exchange pleasantries.

Chang added that he had conveyed Taiwan’s strong desire for regional peace in his conversation with Blinken.

Chang also said he had met with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on the sidelines of the summit. – Rappler.com