Taiwan says Cameroon visas for WTO summit riddled with errors, will not attend

TAIPEI – Taiwan will not attend a World Trade Organization (WTO) summit in Cameroon after visa errors prevented its officials from traveling, the island’s foreign ministry said. The issues came after the delegation was initially listed as coming from China.

The WTO is one of the few international organizations in which Taiwan participates, having joined in 2002 under the name “Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu,” referring to islands controlled by Taipei.

Last week, Taiwan’s foreign ministry said it had complained to both the WTO and Cameroon after the African country labeled the island as “Taiwan, province of China” in pre-travel documents.

On Thursday, the ministry said Cameroon offered a remedial measure to exempt Taiwan’s delegation from visa requirements. However, the new documents contained numerous errors, including misspelled names and incorrect genders, with nearly all delegates listed as female.

“This shows that the Cameroonian side handled the matter carelessly and without sincerity,” the ministry said. “If our personnel were to enter Cameroon with documents full of errors, there would be an even greater risk of obstruction or humiliation upon arrival. After a comprehensive assessment, we have therefore decided not to attend.”

The Cameroonian foreign ministry did not respond to requests for comment.

A WTO spokesperson said new visas were issued on March 20 following engagement by the WTO director-general, in line with Taiwan’s requests, but declined further comment.

Taiwan, a major producer of advanced semiconductors, said this is the first time it has missed a WTO ministerial conference since joining 25 years ago.

China, which maintains deep economic and political ties with Africa, has intensified efforts to limit Taiwan’s international participation, claiming the island is a Chinese province.

Taiwan has also faced Chinese pressure to block its participation in the World Health Organization, even as an observer.

Commenting on Taiwan’s absence, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said the island was “engaging in political manipulation despicably under the pretext of participation in the WTO conference to create disruption and serve their ‘Taiwan independence’ agenda.”

Taiwan’s democratically elected government insists Beijing has no right to speak for or represent the island.

-Reporting by Ben Blanchard; Additional reporting by Olivia Le Poidevin in Yaounde; Editing by Kate Mayberry/Reuters