Former Vice President Siew says he does not feel that he has been belittled at the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum. Siew was speaking Sunday at a press conference in Beijing.
This has been the fourth year that Siew attended APEC leaders’ summit. Siew is attending the event on behalf of President Ma Ying-jeou. Taiwan’s leaders have been barred from participating in the forum due to opposition from China.
On Sunday afternoon, Siew met Chinese President Xi Jinping. During the meeting, Siew was addressed as honorary chairman of the Taiwan-based Cross-Straits Common Market Foundation.
Siew said the treatment he received is no different from his treatment on similar occasions in the past.
“I feel that the courtesy accorded to me during the four events is the same," said Siew. "I don’t feel belittled since the treatment is in line with APEC practices. The meeting with [Chinese President Xi Jinping] on Sunday afternoon was arranged by the Mainland Affairs Council before we arrived. It’s not up to us to question how China covered the news. However, there was friendliness and mutual respect during our meeting.”
Meanwhile, Minister of Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council, Wang Yu-chi, said that China’s decision to send an official from the Mainland’s Taiwan Affairs Office to meet the former president and his delegation at the airport is in line with APEC practices.