The ongoing trade spat between the US and China has been blamed for an historic “failing” of the annual Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summit, held this year in Papua New Guinea.
The Apec summit traditionally ends with a joint communique released by all 21 member states in attendance, however this year a “bitter battle for influence and power broke out among the world’s two superpowers”, the BBC reports.
Tensions over the wording of the final joint statement boiled over on Saturday, when Chinese diplomats “stormed” the office of PNG foreign affairs minister Rimbink Pato, demanding changes to the language in the draft communique.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The Chinese diplomats reportedly refused to leave Pato’s office until security officials were called to remove them.
According to CNN, the most problematic line in the draft statement was: “We agree to fight protectionism including all unfair trade practices” – language that the Chinese delegation felt was “some kind of singling out” by the other nations.
The Chinese delegation was also reportedly upset by assertions that China has been using its “Belt and Road” programme as a means to ensnare smaller nations in the region in a “debt trap”, by offering infrastructure investment loans that the countries are unable to pay back.
It was left to Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau to announce there would be no joint communique this year, telling journalists: “I don’t think it will come as a huge surprise that there are different visions on particular elements regarding trade. Those prevented there being a consensus on the communique document.”
-
Why are global postal services cutting off package delivery to the US?Today's Big Question 'Uncertainty' around new tariff rules halts small-dollar imports
-
SpaceX breaks Starship losing streak in 10th testspeed read The Starship rocket's test flight was largely successful, deploying eight dummy satellites during its hour in space
-
Sudoku medium: August 27, 2025The Week's daily medium sudoku puzzle
-
China is silently expanding its influence in American citiesUnder the Radar New York City and San Francisco, among others, have reportedly been targeted
-
How China uses 'dark fleets' to circumvent trade sanctionsThe Explainer The fleets are used to smuggle goods like oil and fish
-
One year after mass protests, why are Kenyans taking to the streets again?today's big question More than 60 protesters died during demonstrations in 2024
-
What happens if tensions between India and Pakistan boil over?TODAY'S BIG QUESTION As the two nuclear-armed neighbors rattle their sabers in the wake of a terrorist attack on the contested Kashmir region, experts worry that the worst might be yet to come
-
Why Russia removed the Taliban's terrorist designationThe Explainer Russia had designated the Taliban as a terrorist group over 20 years ago
-
Inside the Israel-Turkey geopolitical dance across SyriaTHE EXPLAINER As Syria struggles in the wake of the Assad regime's collapse, its neighbors are carefully coordinating to avoid potential military confrontations
-
'Like a sound from hell': Serbia and sonic weaponsThe Explainer Half a million people sign petition alleging Serbian police used an illegal 'sound cannon' to disrupt anti-government protests
-
The arrest of the Philippines' former president leaves the country's drug war in disarrayIn the Spotlight Rodrigo Duterte was arrested by the ICC earlier this month
