TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) is being credited with ensuring South Korea provided a proper diplomatic reception for Taiwan’s envoy Lin Hsin-i (林信義) at last week’s APEC summit.

Before Lin Hsin-i’s arrival, Taiwan’s foreign ministry was told by Seoul that a mid-level official would not be dispatched to greet the delegation, per Storm Media. The message cited a lack of official diplomatic relations between Taipei and Seoul and past practices as reasons for breaking with anticipated decorum. In response, and to uphold national dignity, Lin Chia-lung initiated a crisis response to rectify the situation.

Recognizing the sensitivity amid uncertainty over the Trump–Chinese leader Xi Jinping meeting, Lin, Taiwan’s representative in Korea George Chiu (丘高偉), and the ministry’s Department of International Organizations Director-General Jonathan C.Y. Sun (孫儉元) began diplomatic outreach, per Storm Media.

When Lin Hsin-i arrived at Busan’s Gimhae International Airport on Oct. 28, he was greeted by South Korea’s APEC Senior Official Ambassador Yoon Seung-Mee, after Seoul reversed course and provided appropriate reception for the delegation.

At the summit, Lin held exchanges with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. He also met with leaders from multiple partner countries to advance Taiwan’s interests.

Upon the delegation’s return to Taiwan on Sunday, Lin Hsin-i was received by National Security Council Secretary-General Joseph Wu (吳釗燮) at Taoyuan International Airport for a post-summit debrief, reported LTN.