Taiwan is sending a cabinet minister to a meeting in China for the first time in years, a small but politically loaded thaw that both sides will watch closely.

• Labour Minister Hung Sun-han will attend the APEC human resources ministers' meeting in Nanjing, China.
• Taiwan will attend under its usual APEC name, "Chinese Taipei," following existing practice.
• Beijing floated handling the travel permits for the delegation, raising questions about what documents Taiwan's officials will use.
• Taipei says it will stick to equal treatment and dignity and will not give ground on status.
• Taiwan is pitching the trip as professional exchange, sharing its labour and workforce experience with other Asia-Pacific members.

Outlook: The trip's real test is whether Beijing treats the delegation as an equal APEC member or as a domestic guest, with the minister due back in Taiwan to chair a minimum wage review this month.