From the South China Sea to the Rohingya, this week’s summits will see the region’s biggest players engage with the biggest issuesHere’s what to watch out for
Many of them will then travel to Papua New Guinea for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) forum this week. The poorest member economy in the bloc, one of the world’s least liveable cities according to the Economist Intelligence Unit, has already raised more than a few eyebrows over using Australian cruise ships to house delegates and 40 brand new Maseratis for the visiting dignitaries to ride around in.
WHAT ARE THE SUMMITS?
The Asean Summit is a twice-yearly meeting of the leaders of the 10 Association of Southeast Asian Nations, which they also use to meet collectively with leaders of partner countries.
“Challenges from outside Asean are diminishing the concept of the centrality of Asean, and challenges within the bloc undermine unity,” says Herve Lemahieu, director of the Asian power and diplomacy programme at Sydney’s Lowy Institute.
The meeting also marks the handover of the Chairmanship of Asean from Singapore to Thailand, which will host next year’s meetings.
WHO WILL BE THERE?
The 10 leaders will then have a collective Asean +3 summit with Li, Abe and Moon, before attending the East Asia Summit with Modi, Morrison, Pence, Putin and New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.
Guests at the summit include Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Chilean President Sebastian Pinera and International Monetary Fund head Christine Lagarde.
“Meeting with China at Apec is symbolic for Australia in a region it has typically considered its sphere of influence,” says Lemahieu. “This provides an opportunity to warm up the relationship but within the confines of red lines against foreign influence in Australia.”
Australia is also a member of “the Quad” – a grouping of the US, India, Australia, and New Zealand – the existence of which has been interpreted by some as a threat to Asean’s centrality as the primary multilateral forum in the region.
