Taiwan Labour Minister Visits China for APEC Meeting

Taiwanese Labour Minister Hung Sun-han traveled to Nanjing, China, on September 20 to attend the eighth Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Human Resources Development Ministerial Meeting. The trip marks the first visit to China by a Cabinet-level official since President Lai Ching-te took office in May 2024, and represents a significant senior-level visit in a decade.

During the session on September 21, Hung advocated for the adoption of risk-management rules for responsible AI and called for stronger protections for platform workers and flexible work arrangements for parents. The visit occurred amid heightened military and political pressure from Beijing, which views President Lai as a separatist. To enter China, Hung used a formal invitation letter rather than a Taiwan compatriot permit.

Upon returning to Taiwan on September 22, Hung stated that China fulfilled its obligations as a host nation by granting him equal treatment and dignity. He asserted that he did not encounter any situations of being belittled during the conference. While Taiwan participates in APEC as Chinese Taipei, the government has not yet announced its representative for the upcoming APEC leaders summit scheduled for November in Shenzhen.