Divergence among Pacific Rim leaders surfaced regarding conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza following the conclusion of a two-day summit of the APEC forum. While expressing support for reforming the World Trade Organization (WTO), the 21-member economies, including Russia, China, the US, and Australia, notably omitted mention of both conflicts in their final joint communique. Instead, a chair’s statement acknowledged that the bloc had discussed the ongoing crisis in Gaza.
The summit, which featured a pivotal meeting between US President Joe Biden and China’s Xi Jinping, aimed at easing tensions between the world’s two largest economies. APEC primarily focused on trade, encompasses a diverse range of countries, from Muslim-majority Indonesia to the US, a crucial ally of Israel.
During the San Francisco summit, President Biden underscored the robust US economy and its Pacific ties. However, efforts toward enhanced regional collaboration to counterbalance China’s influence faced hurdles, particularly concerning Biden’s push to bolster workers’ rights in trade agreements.
Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund, hailed the Biden-Xi meeting as a crucial signal for increased global cooperation, particularly in addressing challenges like climate change.
Tensions between the US and China, often tied to Taiwan’s status, persisted. Taiwan’s APEC envoy, semiconductor tycoon Morris Chang, described the Biden-Xi summit as productive, though informal interactions occurred between Chang and US officials rather than with Xi.
Regarding the Gaza conflict, the APEC chair’s statement acknowledged discussions but refrained from direct intervention, stating that some leaders believed APEC wasn’t the appropriate platform for geopolitical issues. Mention was made of the joint Arab-Islamic summit in Riyadh, where leaders objected to Israel’s justification of actions against Palestinians and called for an immediate end to military operations in Gaza.
Addressing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the statement noted no consensus but highlighted that most members strongly condemned the aggression. Concern was expressed over the human suffering and economic repercussions stemming from the conflict.
Russian President Vladimir Putin was notably absent from the meeting due to an international arrest warrant. In his place, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk represented the country.
The APEC leaders reaffirmed their commitment to fostering a free, open, fair, and transparent trade and investment environment. They pledged to reform the WTO by 2024 to enhance its functions, including ensuring a comprehensive and functional dispute settlement system accessible to all members.
