We don't have much time left

Taiwanese official

The two-day Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) forum summit is due to start on 20 October but China is continuing to reject Taiwan's plan to send former Vice President Li Yuan-zu.

China wants Taiwan to stick to precedent and name an economics-related envoy - previously it has sent either its chief economic planner or central bank governor.

China wants to showcase its financial capital

Correspondents say Beijing, which regards Taiwan as a renegade province, does not want Mr Li because they believe his presence signifies a creep towards a higher level of Taiwanese representation at Apec summits.

But on Wednesday, Taiwan Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Chang Siao-yue said Mr Li remained the island's "sole candidate at this juncture".

'Not fair'

There has been speculation among Taiwanese officials that 78-year-old Mr Li might be named a member of the cabinet's economic planning team, to get round China's objections. Taiwan is running out of time to find a representative acceptable to Beijing.

Apec members

Australia Brunei Canada Chile China Hong Kong Indonesia Japan Malaysia Mexico New Zealand Papua New Guinea Peru Philippines Russia Singapore South Korea Taiwan Thailand United States Vietnam

"Whoever represents President Chen must leave for Shanghai on 18 October at the latest," a Taiwanese source told Reuters news agency.

"The envoy needs to meet President Chen and be briefed by a team of national security advisers before leaving.

"This is not fair. We don't have much time left."

It would be a diplomatic breakthrough for politically-isolated Taiwan if Mr Li was able to attend the meeting.

Taiwan joined Apec in 1991 under the label Chinese Taipei. Its status is described as an "economy" - a label designed to get around China's objections to recognising Taiwan as a state.