Taiwan has appointed Stan Shih, the founder of computer maker Acer, as its envoy to next week's Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in China, the presidential office said on Wednesday.

Shih, 81, will represent Taiwan at the leaders' meeting in the southern city of Shenzhen on 18-19 November. APEC is one of the few international bodies that includes Taiwan, which China claims as its own territory. Taiwan takes part in the grouping under the name "Chinese Taipei" and has been a full member since 1991.

Taiwan seeks written guarantee from Beijing

Alongside the announcement, Taipei called on Beijing to provide a written assurance that Taiwan would be able to participate on an equal footing. Presidential spokesperson Karen Kuo said Taiwan had continued to take part in all APEC meetings on an equal basis.

"This is standard APEC practice and has nothing to do with the so-called 'one-China principle'," Kuo said, adding that Taiwan hoped China would fulfil its responsibilities as host and ensure its delegation could take part in all meetings "under conditions of equality, dignity, and security".

China's Taiwan Affairs Office said earlier in the day that Taiwan's participation was handled in accordance with the one-China principle and the provisions of the APEC memorandum of understanding. Its spokesperson, Zhang Han, said Chinese Taipei could attend meetings as long as those practices were followed.

Shih represented Taiwan at APEC in 2007

Taiwan normally sends former officials or business executives as its APEC envoy to avoid political complications. Shih previously represented Taiwan at the 2007 APEC summit in Sydney, Australia, and founded Acer in 1976.

US President Donald Trump is expected to attend the Shenzhen summit and hold his third meeting of the year with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Taiwan's foreign minister said this month that China had sent the summit invitation by email rather than arranging for an official to deliver it in person.