AP, Manila :
Tensions with China and the Paris attacks could upstage trade issues at the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, being held under extra-heavy security in the Philippine capital this week.
President Barack Obama and the leaders of China, Japan, Mexico and other nations in the 21-member APEC bloc are converging with 7,000 other officials, CEOs and other participants at a convention center by Manila Bay.
The meetings culminate in a 2-day summit of leaders beginning Wednesday.
Russia’s president, Vladimir Putin, is skipping the Manila meetings, partly to focus on an investigation into the Oct. 31 crash of a Russian passenger jet in Egypt that killed all 224 people on board. He will be represented by Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev. Indonesian President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo will likely stay home to deal with domestic problems, according to Philippine officials.
Founded in 1989 in Canberra, Australia, APEC aims to demolish barriers to trade and investment through nonbinding accords. The unwieldy grouping of countries and self-governing territories that range from liberal democracies to dictatorships accounts for 3 billion people, half of global trade and 60 percent of world GDP.
Critics say APEC, which has focused mainly in economic and trade issues, has few concrete achievements because of its nonbinding status. They dub it a talk shop and joke the acronym means “A Perfect Excuse to Chat.” But proponents believe those qualities are its strengths.
“That’s exactly the beauty of APEC, you don’t have to worry about committing yourself to anything because it’s non-binding,” said Philippine Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima. “It gives leaders the freedom to bounce ideas, new ideas.”
Though members tend to shy away from divisive security and geopolitical issues, rifts and political strife often overshadow the annual show of unity that is symbolized by the photo-op of leaders dressed in quirky or traditional shirts provided by the host country.
Friday’s attacks in Paris that killed at least 129 people have already created a dilemma for APEC. The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the attacks on a stadium, a concert hall and Paris cafes.
Behind closed doors, senior diplomats were divided over whether to issue a statement on the attacks or let each leader speak on his or her own. The compromise: a paragraph on terrorism is being added to the APEC summit statement.
Tensions with China and the Paris attacks could upstage trade issues at the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, being held under extra-heavy security in the Philippine capital this week.
President Barack Obama and the leaders of China, Japan, Mexico and other nations in the 21-member APEC bloc are converging with 7,000 other officials, CEOs and other participants at a convention center by Manila Bay.
The meetings culminate in a 2-day summit of leaders beginning Wednesday.
Russia’s president, Vladimir Putin, is skipping the Manila meetings, partly to focus on an investigation into the Oct. 31 crash of a Russian passenger jet in Egypt that killed all 224 people on board. He will be represented by Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev. Indonesian President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo will likely stay home to deal with domestic problems, according to Philippine officials.
Founded in 1989 in Canberra, Australia, APEC aims to demolish barriers to trade and investment through nonbinding accords. The unwieldy grouping of countries and self-governing territories that range from liberal democracies to dictatorships accounts for 3 billion people, half of global trade and 60 percent of world GDP.
Critics say APEC, which has focused mainly in economic and trade issues, has few concrete achievements because of its nonbinding status. They dub it a talk shop and joke the acronym means “A Perfect Excuse to Chat.” But proponents believe those qualities are its strengths.
“That’s exactly the beauty of APEC, you don’t have to worry about committing yourself to anything because it’s non-binding,” said Philippine Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima. “It gives leaders the freedom to bounce ideas, new ideas.”
Though members tend to shy away from divisive security and geopolitical issues, rifts and political strife often overshadow the annual show of unity that is symbolized by the photo-op of leaders dressed in quirky or traditional shirts provided by the host country.
Friday’s attacks in Paris that killed at least 129 people have already created a dilemma for APEC. The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the attacks on a stadium, a concert hall and Paris cafes.
Behind closed doors, senior diplomats were divided over whether to issue a statement on the attacks or let each leader speak on his or her own. The compromise: a paragraph on terrorism is being added to the APEC summit statement.
