Taiwan’s Labour Minister Hung Sun-han has made a rare ministerial-level visit to China, traveling to Nanjing to attend an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting — the first Cabinet-level visit to mainland China by a member of President Lai Ching-te’s administration.
Hung traveled to Nanjing on September 20 for the APEC Human Resources Development Ministerial Meeting, held on September 21. His participation was later described by Taiwan’s Labour Ministry as having proceeded smoothly, with Chinese authorities making arrangements according to APEC practices and rules.
The trip is significant because official interaction between Taipei and Beijing has remained limited, particularly since Taiwan’s Democratic Progressive Party returned to power in 2016. Beijing claims Taiwan as part of China, while Taiwan’s government maintains that its future can only be decided by its people.
APEC is one of the few major international forums in which Taiwan participates as a full member, using the name “Chinese Taipei.” China is hosting the 2026 APEC leaders’ summit in Shenzhen in November, making Taiwan’s participation particularly sensitive.
Hung’s visit was focused on the APEC agenda rather than formal political talks. The human resources meeting covered issues including employment, vocational training, social security and the impact of artificial intelligence on jobs.
Before leaving Taiwan, Hung said participation would be guided by equal participation and reciprocal dignity. Taiwanese officials had also raised concerns about ensuring that its participation in APEC activities in China follows established rules and avoids unnecessary political restrictions.
The visit also comes against a backdrop of heightened cross-Strait tensions. Beijing has rejected repeated calls from Lai for dialogue, while Chinese military activity around Taiwan has remained frequent. At the same time, Taiwan continues to participate in international organizations and forums where it holds membership.
Taiwan’s president does not normally attend the APEC leaders’ summit because of the political sensitivities surrounding Beijing’s objections. Instead, Taipei traditionally sends a representative, often a senior former official or business figure, to the leaders’ meeting. Taiwan has yet to announce its representative for the November summit in Shenzhen.
Hung’s successful participation in Nanjing therefore carries significance beyond the labour agenda. It provides a rare example of direct official contact between Taiwan’s current administration and mainland China through an established multilateral framework — while the much bigger question remains how Taipei and Beijing will handle Taiwan’s participation when APEC leaders gather in Shenzhen later this year.
