TSMC founder Morris Chang named Taiwan's envoy to APEC

台積電創辦人張忠謀被任命為台灣亞太經合會領袖代表

Annual APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting to go virtual this year amid pandemic


[Last update: Nov. 10 at 3:55 p.m.]

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) has named TSMC Founder Morris Chang (張忠謀) as her envoy to the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting scheduled for Nov. 20.

This will be the fourth time Chang has been tapped for the task and the third time under the Tsai administration. He also represented Taiwan in 2018 and 2019.

This year, the annual meeting is hosted by Malaysia. However, the conference, along with other official meetings and side events, is going entirely virtual in light of the ongoing pandemic.

Tsai said Chang stands as “the most suitable choice” for representing Taiwan in the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting with his experience in technology and economic affairs.

“Chang will clearly communicate to all APEC member states about Taiwan’s input into regional development and the country’s plans and advice,” Tsai stated.

Taiwan has a wealth of experience to provide to APEC, said Chang, noting that the discussions this year are expected to focus on combatting the coronavirus and boosting the global economy amid and after the pandemic.

“I feel that we have thorough preparation, and we have high ability,” declared Chang, who went on to say that by contributing to APEC it is also hoped that Taiwan will gain more support from the international community.

According to Tsai, Chang and other APEC delegates are given two primary tasks. First, Taiwan seeks to strengthen ties with other countries while playing an instrumental role in reshaping global supply chains in the post-coronavirus era. The nation will also reaffirm its commitment to sharing medical expertise to help build resilient public health systems across the region.

“We want to broaden our connections with global supply chains — from the upstream to downstream of the network — and propel quality progress in the Asia-Pacific by contributing Taiwan’s expertise in advanced technology,” said Tsai. She added that the government will continue seeking opportunities to negotiate for bilateral or multilateral accords on trade and economic cooperation while helping Taiwanese enterprises expand into international markets.

Taiwan remains committed to contributing to global health, noted Tsai. "Disease prevention is a global issue, and no country can be an outsider," she said, urging all members of the international community to work together to overcome the challenge of the coronavirus.

Her remarks echoed the country’s repeated calls for taking part in the World Health Assembly (WHA), the decision-making body of the World Health Organization (WHO). The WHA, which resumed virtually on Monday (Nov. 9), did not invite Taiwan despite growing support from foreign governments, politicians, and professional medical groups.

The country blamed China for obstructing the Taiwan's inclusion in the WHA. "If the WHO continues to reject Taiwan's participation due to interference from Beijing, it will not only lose the opportunity to unite the world in its fight against the pandemic but also compromise its stated goal of promoting 'Health for All'," said Tsai via social media on Monday.

The APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting is usually attended by heads of government of member states though not Taiwan's, whose official name is ‘Chinese Taipei’ in APEC. The Taiwanese delegates that will attend the APEC ministerial meeting scheduled for Nov. 16 are John Deng (鄧振中), top trade negotiator for the Cabinet, and Kung Ming-hsin (龔明鑫), minister of the National Development Council.