President Biden Highlights United States as a Pacific Power at APEC Summit
During the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in San Francisco, President Joe Biden emphasized the United States’ status as a prominent Pacific power. He stated that the US has long been engaged in the Pacific region and plays a critical role in maintaining peace and security, enabling the growth and development of nations in the area.
President Biden shared a brief discussion he had with Chinese President Xi Jinping, highlighting the importance of US engagement in the Pacific. He assured that the US is not seeking to decouple from China but instead aims to de-risk and diversify its economic approach. This comes in response to Xi’s criticism of the US’ protectionist stance, particularly regarding supply chains.
While acknowledging that the US does not seek conflict with China, President Biden expressed concerns about some Chinese trade practices. As a result, the US is actively working to reduce its dependence on China for supply chains. Despite these challenges, the president’s remarks were met with applause, demonstrating a desire for responsible management of competition between the two powers.
President Biden’s meeting with President Xi yielded positive outcomes, including agreements to combat fentanyl trafficking and reopen military communication channels. However, during a press conference, Biden referred to Xi as a dictator in response to a reporter’s question. This remark drew criticism from the Chinese government, which deemed it as irresponsible.
At the APEC summit, President Biden aims to convey the United States’ commitment to fostering trade relations with the entire Asia-Pacific region. An adviser to the president highlighted the significant investment of APEC economies in the US economy, amounting to $1.7 trillion and creating 2.3 million jobs. In turn, American companies have invested approximately $1.4 trillion in APEC economies.
This year’s APEC summit marks the third time the United States has hosted the event, previously hosting it in Seattle in 1993 and Honolulu in 2011. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, APEC was held virtually in 2020 and 2021. Comprising 21 economies from Asia and the Americas, APEC represents approximately 40% of the global population. Its members include Australia, Canada, China, Japan, Russia, the United States, and other Pacific Ocean-bordering nations.
President Biden’s affirmations of the United States as a Pacific power and his commitment to responsible competition present a balanced perspective amid ongoing tensions with China. As the APEC summit progresses, the focus remains on fostering trade relations and securing economic stability in the Asia-Pacific region.
