The Straits Times says

Look beyond cancelled Apec summit

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After the biggest street protests since his country returned to democracy three decades ago, Chilean President Sebastian Pinera has been forced to cancel this month's leaders summit of 21 economies grouped in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) forum in order to focus on restoring order. The Chile unrest, sparked by a fare increase in national capital Santiago's underground mass transit system, has continued even after the fare hike was withdrawn. A million protesters turned out on Friday alone, so it was indeed a wise decision to cancel the summit. The Chilean government was also forced to scupper a key UN climate change conference, known as COP25, that was planned for early next month.

The cancellation is understandable, given the need to resolve the domestic crisis, as well as concerns about the safety and security of visiting global leaders. But it is still a pity for a variety of reasons, not the least of which is the lost opportunity for a key meeting on the sidelines between United States President Donald Trump and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, at which a so-called Phase One agreement on the ongoing trade war was to have been announced. Among issues on the table were significant Chinese purchases of US farm goods and accords on patent protection. The two now have to look for an alternative venue for a summit that would be acceptable to both, particularly Beijing, which is loath to be seen as having capitulated to US pressure.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on November 04, 2019, with the headline Look beyond cancelled Apec summit. Subscribe