"Since the founding of APEC, there have been clear guidelines on Taiwan's participation. Taipei can only send ministers in charge of APEC-related economic affairs," foreign ministry spokesman Kong Quan said.

"We are resolutely opposed to any selection of a representative by Taiwan that does not conform with previous practice."

Chen on Wednesday appointed parliament speaker Wang Jin-pyng as his special envoy to the APEC summit in South Korea on November 18 and 19.

Taiwan sent Nobel Prize winner Lee Yuan-tseh to APEC last time.

Taiwanese presidents have been barred from joining APEC summits because of objections from China, which views the island as part of its territory to be reunified, by force if necessary.

Wang, a senior politician from the leading opposition Kuomintang, had accepted the appointment, Chen said.

Kong said that abiding by the guidelines on what kind of envoy Taiwan can send was a precondition for the island's participation and was "the prerequisite and guarantee for this APEC meeting to be successful."

"We hope South Korea, as the host country of APEC meeting, can play its due role as the APEC host and guarantee that this meeting, like previous meetings, can achieve positive results," he said.

South Korea has turned down Chen's request to participate in the summit, which the Taiwan president said was the result of pressure from Beijing.

Seoul switched its diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing in 1992.

Taiwan has participated in APEC meetings under the name of Chinese Taipei as Beijing has insisted the island had no right to take part in international organisations.

China and Taiwan split at the end of a civil war in 1949.

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