The possibility of President Ma Ying-jeou meeting his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, during this year’s APEC summit is unclear. That was the word on Monday from Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) Minister Wang Yu-chi, who is the nation’s top China policymaker.
This year’s APEC or Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum is scheduled to be held in Beijing in November.
Minister Wang said the possibility of the two meeting at that time depends on both Taiwan and China. But he stopped short of giving a clear answer about the chance of that happening.
Wang said the government has made it clear to China that it is appropriate for the two to meet on the sidelines of the summit. But China is reluctant to have the two meet at an “international event.”
China considers Taiwan to be part of its territory even though the two sides have been governed separately for more than 60 years.
As to whether Wang himself will attend this year’s APEC summit as an advisor, Wang said the government has yet to make a final decision. However, there is a good chance of that happening if Taiwan follows previous precedent.