Taiwan will not attend a major World Trade Organization meeting in Cameroon, marking the first time it has skipped such an event. The decision follows a dispute over how the island was labeled on official visa documents.
Cameroon listed Taiwan as "Taiwan, Province of China," prompting a stern protest from Taipei. Though later granted visa exemptions, delegation members' names were misspelled and gender incorrectly listed, fueling accusations of bad faith.
China claims Taiwan as part of its territory and opposes any designation implying statehood. Taiwan joined the WTO in 2002 under the name "Chinese Taipei" as a separate customs territory.
Taiwan's foreign ministry said the flawed documentation and lack of resolution efforts left them no choice but to withdraw to uphold national dignity. The WTO has declined to comment on the issue.