APEC stands for Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation. It is an international economic forum with 21 member countries, all on the Pacific Rim. The forum was started in 1989 to facilitate discussion and cooperation between member countries on economic issues such as lowering trade restrictions and coordinating investments.
This year’s APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting will be held from Nov. 10 to 11 in Beijing. It will be the second time for China to host the top-level economic meeting of the Asia-Pacific region. China last hosted the meeting in Shanghai in 2001.
The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum, which includes China and the United States, will see leaders from more than 20 countries and economies descend on Beijing in November, but as usual, Taiwan’s leader will not be there.
Even though Taiwan has been a member since 1991 under the name “Chinese Taipei,” the nation’s leader is barred from attending the annual leaders’ summit due to political pressure from China. China considers Taiwan a part of its territory and is strongly opposed to Taiwan’s participation in the international community, including organizations under the UN framework.
President Ma Ying-jeou’s special envoy last year was former Vice President Vincent Siew, who replaced another former vice president, Lien Chan. Ma is hoping that he will be able to attend the APEC summit in person this year and meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping, but China has yet to respond.