Taiwan ex-VP Siew leaves Manila after Apec summit
Taiwan envoy Vincent Siew Noel Celis/Pool Photo via AP
Former Vice President of Taiwan Vincent Siew left the Philippines on Friday after attending the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summit in Manila.
READ:
He departed from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport shortly before 11 a.m.
Siew, who served as vice president of Taiwan from 2008 to 2012, represented President Ma Ying-jeou in the Apec summit.
He has previously attended a total of six Apec meetings as minister of economic affairs and representative of the Chinese Taipei government.
Article continues after this advertisementREAD: Taiwan will send ex-VP Siew to attend Apec in Manila, says Teco
Article continues after this advertisementAccording to China’s “One China Policy,” only a representative of the Chinese Taipei government, not its president, can sit during Apec meetings.
Citing a statement from President Ma’s office, a report from the Taiwan Economic and Cultural Office said Siew was chosen to represent Chinese Taipei because he is “well-versed in economic and trade diplomacy, and multilateral trade negotiations.”
The Philippines and Taiwan recently signed a much-awaited fisheries pact, which aimed to reduce disputes in their overlapping territorial waters. RAM
