Acer co-founder to represent Taiwan at Apec in China

TAIPEI - Acer co-founder Stan Shih will represent Taiwan at a regional summit in China next week, the island democracy said on Wednesday.

World leaders, including US President Donald Trump, are preparing to gather in Shenzhen for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) meeting on Nov 18 and 19.

Shih, 81, was picked to represent Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te due to China’s insistence that Taiwan is part of its territory and not a separate nation.

Shih, who was previously chief executive and chairman of the personal-computer maker Acer, represented Taiwan at Apec in 2007 when it was held in Sydney.

“He possesses extensive experience in international exchanges and is a key figure in the development of Taiwan’s technology industry and the internationalisation of its brands,” Presidential Office spokeswoman Karen Kuo said in a statement announcing the appointment.

“Representative Shih has long kept abreast of global technology trends and possesses an in-depth understanding of issues such as artificial intelligence, the digital economy, and technological innovation topics that have garnered attention from Apec in recent years.”

Taiwan became a full member of Apec in 1991, participating under the name “Chinese Taipei”.

China claims Taiwan is part of its territory and opposes the self-ruled island’s participation in international organisations and exchanges with other countries.

Taiwan’s foreign ministry has called on China to respect “the core principle of equal participation” at Apec and ensure “Taiwan’s right to equal and dignified participation”.

Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung accused China this month of “unequal treatment” after Taipei’s invitation was sent by email, and not delivered “in person”.

When China last hosted the summit in 2014, a Chinese official personally delivered the invitation to Taiwan, which was then governed by the Kuomintang, a party that favours closer ties with Beijing.

But in 2001, when Taiwan was ruled by the pro-independence President Chen Shui-bian of the Democratic Progressive Party, Taipei skipped the summit after host China faxed the invitation and rejected the government’s choice of representative.

Taiwan has sent three ministerial-level officials, including Labour Minister Hung Sun-han, to Apec-related meetings in Nanjing, Hong Kong and Suzhou this year.

Hung told reporters upon returning to Taiwan that China had provided Taiwan “equal rights” on par with other Apec members, and through “efforts”, Taiwan delegates “did not encounter any situation of being belittled in our conference participation”.