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| The 2018 APEC summit, traditionally an amicable gathering, was instead the scene of a 'striking' confrontation between the U.S. and China. (Mark Schiefelbein/Associated Press) |
Normally the meeting turns out to be friendly, despite this it became a little tense and without an agreement reached. In fact, the confrontation of APEC has caused great uncertainty against the G20.
Possibly, due to the alphabet, the Chinese president was positioned in the first row. Just above Xi’s left shoulder was Vladimir Putin’s number 2: Russian Prime Minister Dimitry Medvedev. But someone else was needed, Mike Pence, vice president of the United States. Who did not give priority to the opening photo, despite his absence, the other leaders continued without him?
During the APEC summit, it was possible to observe the dominant presence of China by promoting its agenda, with the isolated United States. Likewise, he kept pursuing competing objectives, which for others was very uncomfortable.
It should be noted that APEC has always been known as a friendly summit. During the same summits, the head of the International Monetary Fund offers an informative meeting. While for its part, the advisory boards of affiliated companies “involve” politicians in their regional priorities.
Likewise, it was possible to observe a great contrast that without a doubt was very marked and even discordant. Since they were appreciated from luxury fashion brands to broken windows and tin roofs. Similarly, public holidays were declared in order to clean the city for international visitors, who were warned not to stop at road posts trying to attract the attention and money of foreigners.
On the other hand, Australia’s general support dwarfs the Chinese money that flowed to Port Moresby to guarantee the success of the summit. While China was not very subtle, as a huge Chinese door outside the new Hilton hotel, with a giant banner on the road celebrating “cooperation” and “peace,” it was pretty obvious who was paying.
Jonathan Pryke, who is director of the Pacific Islands program at the Lowy Institute, has said that Chinese aid is strategic. I also add it is usually followed by contracts for Chinese state-owned companies.
Similarly said, “Corruption is something real here” and he added, “These SOEs do not operate on the same playing field as many Western commercial companies here, but they are also competitors, so they are winning contracts in the table as in the bottom”.
Source: Janyce McGregor | CBC News
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