U.S. Senior Official to APEC Casey Mace has said a key feature of APEC is
that Taiwan is an equal partner and participant, and that the U.S. will
continue discussions with Taiwan to ensure its full participation in next
year's meeting.

Beijing will host the 2026 Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, and
according to a Reuters report last week, China's foreign ministry had said
Taiwan's participation in APEC activities must comply with the "one China"
principle.

Mace told Taiwan's official news agency today that all APEC members remain
committed to all members participating on an equal footing in all APEC
events.

He said that the 21 APEC members agreed by consensus last year to China's
offer to host APEC in 2026 after Beijing promised to be consistent with
APEC's guidelines, rules and established practice.

He added that the U.S. expects China to fulfill its promise.

The U.S. State Department also said earlier this week that the U.S. will
continue to press China for security arrangements and protocols that
safeguard all participants when attending APEC meetings in China.

(JL)