Taiwan sending ex-VP to APEC

MANILA, Philippines – Taiwan will be represented in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Manila this week by its former vice president Vincent Siew.

In a statement, the Taiwan Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in Manila said Taiwan leader Ma Ying-jeou invited Siew to represent him in the Nov. 18-19 summit because of the latter’s connections and expertise in Asia Pacific trade and commerce. Ma was earlier reported to be attending the APEC summit.

No Taiwan president has ever been invited to the APEC summit due to China’s objection. The Philippines subscribes to the one-China policy, but has trade, cultural and consular relations with Taipei.

Taiwan broke away from China and proclaimed itself an independent state in 1949 after the Communists led by Mao Zedong won the civil war against the Kuomintang of Chiang Kai-shek. Beijing considers Taiwan a renegade province.

“President Ma believes the former vice president’s expertise, background, experience and connections will undoubtedly substantively enhance the nation’s influence in the trade regime within the Asia-Pacific, and that is why he has again invited former Vice President Siew to serve as his representative,” the TECO statement read.