President 
Lai Ching-te presented the flag on September 15 to the 53 competitors representing Taiwan at the 48th WorldSkills Competition, which opens in Shanghai, China, on September 22. At the Ministry of Labor's ceremony Lai handed over the national flag and the team's competition flag, CNA reported; the contest runs through September 27.
What did the president tell the team? Each competitor had risen through regional and national contests and team trials, practising until skills became muscle memory, Lai said. He called talent the foundation of national competitiveness, said "you are Taiwan's future" and cited Taiwan's fourth-place IMD world competitiveness ranking this year, its best ever, CNA reported. Growth this year is forecast at 11.05 percent, a 39-year high, he said, and higher tax revenue lets the government strengthen defence, fund its "AI New Ten Major Construction" projects and waive tuition at all high and vocational schools. He urged the team to "believe in yourselves" and let the world see Taiwan's vocational spirit.
How will the team appear in Shanghai? The competition follows the Olympic model, under which the team competes as Chinese Taipei and waves its competition flag, PTS reported. With the event in Shanghai, competitors have also been reminded of certain matters. A furniture woodworking competitor, who said he went six years without school holidays to make the team, said the national flag "probably cannot appear at the venue," and that the team would keep "what cannot be said" in their hearts and give everything to let the world see Taiwan. An experienced international judge said following the organiser's rules would let competitors focus on competing.
What about the labor minister's China trip? Labor Minister Hung Sun-han will attend an APEC human resources development ministerial meeting in Nanjing in late September, PTS reported. The Mainland Affairs Council has said he travels on an APEC invitation, but reports have surfaced that the Chinese side may obtain a Taiwan compatriot permit on his behalf. Taiwan is a formal APEC member and "equal participation and reciprocal dignity" has always been its core principle there, Hung said, and it would follow APEC rules and "not limit ourselves." Asked what he would do if China required him to take the permit, he did not answer directly, repeating that he attends under the existing APEC model on Taiwan's terms of reciprocal dignity. He has no plan to lead the team in Shanghai afterwards, he said, citing work such as the minimum wage review.
Figures referenced: Lai Ching-te. — JudgeMarket.
