Taiwan Navigates Delicate APEC Balance as It Sends Envoy to Shenzhen

Acer founder Stan Shih tapped as Taiwan’s representative to the Shenzhen summit amid maritime tensions and looming local elections

Visitors photograph an APEC display outside the Qianhai Exhibition Hall in Shenzhen on Nov. 10. (China News Service/VCG via Getty Images)

THOMPSON CHAU

November 12, 2026 14:38 JST

TAINAN, Taiwan — As world leaders convene in the southern Chinese tech hub of Shenzhen for next week’s Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, much of the attention will center on U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Yet Chinese leader Xi Jinping will also play host to an unusual guest: a delegate sent on behalf of Taiwan’s Democratic Progressive Party administration. For Taipei, the visit represents a carefully calibrated maneuver—one that underscores its desire to remain visible on the regional stage while avoiding fresh friction with Beijing.

Source link