Taiwan re-appoints former economy minister as APEC summit representative

TAIPEI (Reuters) -Taiwan's presidential office said on Wednesday it had appointed for the second year running a former economy minister as its envoy to this year's APEC summit in South Korea, one of the few international forums both Taiwan and China take part in.

Lin Hsin-i, also chairman of government-backed investment fund Taiwania Capital, would represent Taiwan at the summit, the presidential office said in a statement.

Lin, who also led Taiwan's delegation in 2005 when it was likewise held in South Korea, was the most suitable candidate to represent Taiwan President Lai Ching-te, the president's office said.

This year's summit could give an opportunity for a meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Donald Trump.

At last year's summit in Peru, Lin greeted Xi with a wave but they did not speak. Lin also met then-U.S. President Joe Biden while in Lima.

Chinese-claimed Taiwan participates as "Chinese Taipei" at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum and does not send its president to summits given the political sensitivities and China's objections, given it views the island as its own territory.

The democratically elected government in Taipei rejects Beijing's sovereignty claims, saying only the island's people can decide their future.

(Reporting by Ben Blanchard; Editing by Lincoln Feast.)

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