Chinese President Xi Jinping at the APEC forum was a venue to create opportunities to meet with other leaders and dispel attempts to impose US influence according to the agenda in Asia. This was a chance to outshine the US presence at the summit and show Chinese wields significant power.
Xi Shows China Will Not Lag Behind the United States
Xi Jinping has been using the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum to showcase China's increasing influence and strike back against US influence in the region, just as host Thailand gives the APEC baton to its replacement, the United States, reported Benar News.
He initiated his first significant global tour since the pandemic hit almost three years ago upon winning an unprecedented third term as leader of the party at the Chinese Communist Party's Congress last month. The APEC Summit held in Bangkok that concluded on Saturday preceded the Group of 20 Summit in Bali, noted Bharat Express.
APEC summit was the ninth gathering of world leaders in Asia in nine days. Despite the absence of US Vice President Joe Biden and Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin from the APEC forum, Chinese President Xi Jinping appeared to have the stage to himself.
APEC Forum Highlighted China's Influence
During the summit, Chinese president XI was more diplomatic when encountering other heads of state, even Joe Biden. Their meeting on the sidelines of the G20 helped to lessen China-US tension, but US influence is present.
Drew Thompson; commented that the Chinese regime's propaganda enterprise is less bucolic in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum and Group of 20 summits of late.
The summit in Bangkok was busy when the Chinese leader met with many heads and US allies in the region; they come from Japan, Singapore, and the Philippines concerning economy and security, citing RFA.
Xi spoke to Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-cha, but their photo op went viral on social media, which had the opposite effect. People thought the Thai PM was snubbed, which was not the case.
One comment by Ja Ian Chong, a Singapore political scientist, said that the meeting was genuine reactions, not fake. At one point, the Chinese leader lectured Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau because of breaching confidentiality. He added that the major differences between China and its neighbors and trading partners remain entrenched, and "there are no signs that China is changing its foreign policy or how it pursues its interests."
China's leader is more apt than Biden
Gao Zhikal, vice president of the Beijing-based Center for China and Globalization, remarked that Xi's attendance in the Asia economic body shows growing dominance with a gasping US presence disappearing.
Joe Biden attended the G20 in Indonesia and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit in Cambodia, which Xi did not participate in; the US tried to show a commitment to the region.
Compared to China's superior economic policy that Washington could be better. The US leader left to attend a less important APEC meeting. Gao added that Biden disregards the meeting as nothing and getting home to the US for his granddaughter is more crucial.
Chinese President Xi's attendance at the APEC forum gave the US influence schooling that it could not co-opt the economic body. Beijing showed its dominance.
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