By Eduardo Baptista
GYEONGJU, South Korea (Reuters) -Taiwan’s representative to the APEC summit, Lin Hsin-i, said on Saturday he and U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent discussed supply chains and semiconductors during a meeting on the sidelines of the event in South Korea.
The island’s exports to the United States, apart from semiconductors, are currently subject to a 20% tariff, though Taipei has been in talks to get the figure reduced.
Lin, a former economy minister, told reporters in the city of Gyeongju that the two discussed safe supply chains and tech cooperation during a 40-minute meeting, adding that Bessent was interested in hearing how Taiwan built its chip industry.
‘WIDE-RANGING DISCUSSIONS’
The two “had a very wide-ranging discussion, covering cooperation in technology, the security of supply chains, and many other issues,” Lin said.
“He said, ‘I was really intrigued to hear how you built up your high-tech semiconductor cluster – how it developed and the history behind it’. He listened with great interest.”
The U.S. Treasury Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment outside office hours in Washington.
Like most countries, the United States has no formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan, but is the democratically-governed island’s most important international backer and arms supplier.
President Donald Trump left South Korea after a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping before the gathering’s summit of leaders began, leaving Bessent to lead the U.S. delegation.
On Friday night, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi posted a picture on X in which she greeted Lin at the summit.
The Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) grouping is one of the few international bodies Taiwan takes part in, although under the name “Chinese Taipei”, to avoid political problems with China, which views the island as its own territory.
Lin did not answer questions on whether he had talked to Xi.
Taiwan’s official Central News Agency said Lin had no interaction with Xi at the closing ceremony’s group photograph for leaders and country representatives, even though both were on the same stage.
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 in Lima.
CHINA TO HOST 2026 APEC
China will host next year’s APEC meet in the southern manufacturing hub of Shenzhen, which turns out everything from robotics to electric cars.
China provided written assurances last year about the safety of participants in that summit, Taiwan foreign ministry official Jonathan Sun told the same news conference.
Taiwan has worked within the APEC framework “to ensure that China fulfils its commitments – so that the meetings can proceed smoothly, and the safety of all participants is fully protected,” he added.
China’s foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
China’s government refuses to speak to Taiwan President Lai Ching-te, calling him a “separatist”. It has ramped up military pressure against Taiwan, including war games staged in its vicinity.
Taiwan’s government rejects Beijing’s sovereignty claims, saying only the island’s people can decide their future.
(Reporting by Eduardo Baptista; Writing by Ben Blanchard; Editing by Clarence Fernandez)
