This annual set piece brings together the ministers of all the APEC economies and the media. As in previous years, Taiwan journalists tried to dominate the questioning, lining up at the floor microphones to fire pointed questions at China's representatives, while giving the Taiwan officials a chance to give their side. After the first question from a Taiwan reporter, however, New Zealand Foreign Minister Don McKinnon interrupted. He had been to eight previous APEC meetings, he declared, and each time, Taiwan journalists played the same game. The question was ignored.
Some journalists booed, while mainland officials in the balcony applauded.
Undeterred, the Taiwan reporters continued to step up to the mikes. One asked why Chinese Taipei and Hong Kong had not been invited to the special ministerial meeting on East Timor. Another wanted the Taiwan ministers to kindly elaborate on the island's contributions to APEC over the years. Though McKinnon tried to pass over the questions, Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan insisted on tackling them. He wanted to explain why Beijing has insisted that China should accede to the WTO ahead of Taiwan.