Former Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) chairman Lien Chan (連戰) said yesterday he was honored to be chosen as the president’s envoy for next month’s APEC leadership summit in Peru.
“This is a great responsibility. I will participate in the meeting and spare no effort,” Lien told reporters in front of his house.
Taiwan’s presidents have been barred from the annual APEC summits because of pressure from Beijing.
On Wednesday, the Presidential Office said President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) tapped Lien for the Lima meeting, and that Lien was the most suitable candidate given his understanding of the international situation and an impressive educational background.
Lien will attend the event in his capacity as chairman of the National Policy Foundation, a Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) think tank. As a former vice president, Lien will be the highest-ranking Taiwanese official ever to attend an APEC summit.
In a statement issued late on Wednesday, Lien said he would share his views and experiences with APEC leaders.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said yesterday the choice of Lien signified the lessening of tension across the Taiwan Strait.
Ministry spokesman Henry Chen (陳銘政) said China’s approval of Lien as envoy shows Beijing is acquiescing to Taiwan’s offer of a “diplomatic truce” and the issue of Taiwan’s international space was slowly being resolved.
Noting that APEC is one of the most important international organizations that Taiwan has joined as a full member, Chen said Lien’s attendance would be a positive development in cross-strait relations.
ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY JENNY W. HSU AND CNA
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