As President Trump departed APEC early, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent led the U.S. delegation, holding a 40-minute meeting with Taiwan's envoy focused on supply chain security and the origins of the island's semiconductor dominance.
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| Taiwan's envoy to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, Presidential Adviser Lin Hsin-i, speaks during a press conference at the end of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in Gyeongju, South Korea, November 1, 2025. REUTERS/Tyrone Siu |
GYEONGJU, South Korea (November 1, 2025): In a significant high-level engagement on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, Taiwan's representative, Lin Hsin-i, met with U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent for a 40-minute discussion centered on the global economy's most critical technology: semiconductors.
The meeting, held in the host city of Gyeongju, underscored the delicate but vital relationship between Washington and Taipei, even as it navigated complex diplomatic protocols with China.
Lin, a former economy minister, told reporters that the conversation with Bessent was substantive and deep. "We had a very wide-ranging discussion, covering cooperation in technology, the security of supply chains, and many other issues," Lin said.
With President Donald Trump having already left South Korea following a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Bessent, a former hedge fund manager and now a key economic figure in the administration, is leading the U.S. delegation.
Bessent 'Intrigued' by Taiwan's Chip Cluster
According to Lin, the U.S. Treasury Secretary expressed a keen personal interest not just in policy, but in the history of Taiwan's rise to semiconductor supremacy.
"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'," Lin recounted. "He listened with great interest."
This curiosity comes as the U.S. actively works to onshore its own advanced semiconductor manufacturing through the CHIPS Act, aiming to reduce reliance on Asian supply chains that Washington views as increasingly vulnerable.
Beyond the strategic talk of secure technology, the meeting also hovered over a pressing economic issue: the 20% tariffs currently imposed on many of Taiwan's exports to the United States, semiconductors being a notable exception. Taipei has been in protracted talks with Washington seeking a reduction in this figure.
The Diplomatic Dance at APEC
The APEC summit is one of the few high-profile international forums where Taiwan can participate, though it must do so under the name "Chinese Taipei" to avoid a political veto from Beijing, which views the democratically-governed island as its own territory.
This creates a high-stakes diplomatic dance at every event. While the U.S. maintains no formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan, it is its most important international backer and arms supplier.
The U.S. Treasury Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the meeting, which was made outside of Washington office hours.
The engagement with the U.S. delegation contrasted sharply with the lack of interaction with China. When pressed by reporters, Lin did not answer questions about any potential conversation with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Taiwan's official Central News Agency later reported that Lin and Xi had "no interaction" during the closing ceremony's group photograph for leaders, "even though both were on the same stage." This continues a pattern from last year's summit in Peru, where Lin greeted Xi with a wave, but they did not speak. In Lima, however, Lin did hold a meeting with then-U.S. President Joe Biden.
In a friendlier gesture, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi posted a picture on the social media platform X showing her warmly greeting Lin at the summit.
Looking Ahead: China to Host 2026 APEC
The focus on protocol and security is set to intensify, as China will host the 2026 APEC summit in its southern manufacturing hub of Shenzhen a city that produces everything from robotics to electric cars.
China's government refuses to speak with Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te, labeling him a "separatist," and has ramped up military pressure with war games near the island.
Given this hostility, Taiwan has already sought preemptive guarantees. Jonathan Sun, a Taiwan foreign ministry official, told the same news conference that China had provided "written assurances" last year regarding the safety of all participants for the 2026 summit.
"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," Sun added.
China's foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the assurances.