Exclusive
On Indonesia’s new oligarchy, China’s state bank, and other stories | Asia Sentinel Stories of the Week On Indonesia’s new oligarchy, China’s state bank, and other stories | Asia Sentinel Stories of the Week ‘Tinder Swindler’s’ plan for a dating app sparks industry backlash ‘Tinder Swindler’s’ plan for a dating app sparks industry backlash US prosecutors accuse Huawei of ‘far-reaching criminal scheme’ spanning decades US prosecutors accuse Huawei of ‘far-reaching criminal scheme’ spanning decades
Current Affairs

How will Beijing receive most senior Taiwan official to attend Apec events this year?

In a rare development, Taiwanese Labour Minister Hung Sun-han is expected to travel to Nanjing on Sunday, becoming the first cabinet-level official under William Lai…

By Samantha Johnson / September 19, 2026
In a rare development, Taiwanese Labour Minister Hung Sun-han is expected to travel to Nanjing on Sunday, becoming the first cabinet-level official under William Lai Ching-te’s administration to visit mainland China.
Hung will attend an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) ministerial meeting on Monday to discuss employment, vocational training, social security and the impact of artificial intelligence on jobs.

Hung will be the most senior Taiwanese official to visit the mainland for Apec events this year. The island’s vice-minister of economic affairs, Lai Chien-hsin, took part in the energy ministerial meeting in Beijing last week and then chief trade negotiator Yang Jen-ni participated in a trade ministers’ meeting in Suzhou in May.

Taiwan concludes annual war games, including preparing for PLA sea blockade

While Hung’s visit is being closely watched for signs of a possible thaw in a prolonged cross-strait stand-off, analysts have cautioned against interpreting it as an icebreaking trip or a resumption of official exchanges between Taipei and Beijing.

Don't Miss: