Small in size, big in tech and influence: How Taiwan punches above its weight in Apec

The 2025 APEC Summit in Gyeongju, Korea, was marked by the Trump–Xi meeting overshadowing broader discussions. Yet Taiwan, participating as “Chinese Taipei,” used the platform effectively to promote its strengths in semiconductors, digital economy, and AI infrastructure. Despite its limited diplomatic recognition and constraints under the “One China” principle, Taiwan engaged actively through APEC’s working groups, emphasizing economic resilience, inclusive growth, and sustainability. By focusing on functional cooperation rather than headline diplomacy, Taiwan has built networks, credibility, and influence within regional economic governance—demonstrating that substance, not spectacle, drives its growing relevance in the Asia-Pacific’s evolving economic and technological landscape.