Archive · 22 Sep 2026
Taiwan minister returns from China after rare APEC trip
Taiwanese Labour Minister Hung Sun-han went to China for an APEC meeting.
This was unusual because senior Taiwanese officials rarely visit China.
Hung said China treated him fairly and did not make him feel unimportant.
He entered China with an official invitation instead of a special travel permit commonly used by Taiwanese visitors.
Taiwan attends APEC under the name Chinese Taipei.
China says Taiwan is part of China and calls President Lai Ching-te a separatist.
Lai says Taiwan’s people should decide their future.
Hung said he was relieved to return home to Taiwan.
Taiwanese Labour Minister Hung Sun-han said he was treated with equal dignity during a rare visit to China.
Hung attended an APEC human-resources meeting in China from Sunday until his return on Tuesday, September 22.
He traveled using a formal meeting invitation rather than China’s Taiwan compatriot permit.
Hung was the first minister in President Lai Ching-te’s government to visit China.
Taiwan has not announced who will attend November’s APEC leaders’ summit in Shenzhen.
- Who
- Taiwanese Labour Minister Hung Sun-han attended the meeting.
- What
- He made a rare visit to China for an APEC meeting on human resources and said he was treated with equal dignity.
- When
- He arrived in China on Sunday and returned on Tuesday, September 22; the next APEC leaders’ summit is scheduled for November.
- Where
- The meeting took place in China, and Hung returned through Taoyuan, Taiwan.
- Why
- He traveled to participate in a regional APEC meeting while Taiwan and China remain politically and militarily tense.
Taiwan’s position
China’s position
Taiwan’s status and representation
Taiwan’s position
Taiwan participates in APEC under the name Chinese Taipei and said its minister should receive equal treatment and dignity as an APEC member.
China’s position
China views Taiwan as a Chinese province rather than a country and uses the name Chinese Taipei for Taiwan’s participation in settings such as APEC.
Political relations
Taiwan’s position
President Lai Ching-te says only Taiwan’s people can decide the island’s future.
China’s position
China has rejected repeated offers of talks by Lai and calls him a separatist.
- Visitor
- Hung Sun-han, Taiwan’s labour minister
- Meeting
- An APEC meeting focused on human resources
- Location
- China
- APEC name for Taiwan
- Chinese Taipei
- Travel document
- Hung used a formal meeting invitation, not a Taiwan compatriot permit
- Return date
- Tuesday, September 22
- Upcoming event
- The APEC leaders’ summit is scheduled for November in Shenzhen