The APEC Sports Policy Network (ASPN) Roundtable Meeting was held on March 26 with great fanfare. This meeting holds milestone significance — not only was it the first major international appearance of Taiwan’s Ministry of Sports since its formal establishment, but it was also fully attended and facilitated by the newly appointed Director of Department of International Affairs from the Ministry of Sports, Chang Chin-Wang, who brings a wealth of experience in international affairs. The meeting demonstrated the close collaboration between ASPN and the Ministry of Sports, aiming to create a new paradigm for sports diplomacy across the Asia-Pacific region through the tangible power of “sports technology.”
- The annual ASPN Roundtable Meeting was held in Taipei this year.
Ministry of Sports at the Helm: Director Chang Demonstrates Forward Vision in International Affairs
This roundtable meeting welcomed representatives from multiple ASPN member economies, including Japan, Australia, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Papua New Guinea. In addition, Ms. Miyuki Muramoto, Program Director of the APEC Secretariat’s Human Resources Development Working Group (HRDWG), also participated online via video conference. Director Chang drew on his extensive experience in foreign affairs to engage in in-depth dialogue with representatives from each economy. Director Chang emphasized that the establishment of the Ministry of Sports symbolizes a shift in sports policy — from traditional competitive athletics toward a comprehensive integration of “technology, industry, and diplomacy” — and that ASPN is the most important regional cooperation hub in this transformation.
- Ms. Miyuki Muramoto, Program Director, participated online via video conference.
- Director Chang engaged in in-depth dialogue with representatives from each economy, drawing on his extensive foreign affairs experience.
Regional Practical Sharing: From Sports Tech Innovation to Talent Ecosystems
Representatives from each economy exchanged the latest trends in sports development during the meeting:
- Australia and Chinese Taipei each discussed roadmaps for applying sports technology in the sports sector, including technological breakthroughs in detecting and optimizing athletic performance, as well as using industry accelerator programs to cultivate cross-disciplinary sports talent.
- Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, and Papua New Guinea shared how they have established structured talent development mechanisms within badminton, football, and national sports blueprints (such as MyTP).
- Singapore and the Philippines elaborated on how major sporting event legacies (such as Ironman 70.3 and the Singapore Marathon) have been used to build lasting talent and industry ecosystems.
- The Australian representative shared that the core strategies of sports development are “Play Well” (promoting participation) and “Win Well” (enhancing competitive performance), grounded in capacity building.
- The Singapore representative introduced their strategy of using sporting events for talent identification, enriching competitive experience, and nurturing talent.
- Taiwan shared examples of cultivating cross-disciplinary talent through the Sports Tech Innovation Accelerator Program.
The Diplomatic Power of Sports Technology: TaiSPO as an International Stage
The closing portion of the meeting focused on how ASPN can leverage its technological strengths to expand international relations. Through its long-cultivated “ASPN Sports Tech Accelerator,” the program has successfully connected multiple startups with APEC markets. Director Chang specifically noted that future sports diplomacy will no longer be limited to traditional exchanges — instead, it will harness the tangible capabilities of “sports technology.”
This roundtable meeting was specially arranged in close coordination with TaiSPO, using cutting-edge sports technology displays on the exhibition floor to physically demonstrate to APEC member economies Taiwan’s hard capabilities in smart sensing, AI training, and data management. This was not merely a technical exchange — it was about using technological solutions to help each economy address pain points in sports development, thereby achieving substantive “sports diplomacy.”
- After the meeting, ASPN VIP guests were led to the TaiSPO exhibition area to engage with innovative startups.
Committed to Innovation — Connecting with the World Through Technology
The roundtable meeting concluded to unanimous acclaim. Director Chang summarized by stating that ASPN’s dedication to sports technology development is not only about improving economic outcomes, but also about transforming sports technology into Taiwan’s genuine foothold on the international stage. Going forward, ASPN will continue to leverage international exhibitions such as TaiSPO to convert the innovative momentum of the Asia-Pacific region into energy for international diplomacy — connecting with the world through the power of technology in practice.