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EDITORIAL: APEC
provides opportunity for nation
Asia-Pacific economic ministers, faced with greater economic and financial
volatility amid uncertainties about the US Federal Reserve’s scaling back of its
massive asset-buying measures, gathered in the past few days in one of the few
countries managing to thrive despite the recent market instability: Indonesia.
Business representatives from the 21 APEC members kicked off their annual chief
executive meeting in Bali on Saturday, while leaders of APEC members are
scheduled to meet tomorrow for the 21st leaders summit.
Former vice president Vincent Siew (蕭萬長) is representing President Ma Ying-jeou
(馬英九) at this year’s summit and he will use this opportunity to raise Taiwan’s
international visibility, initiate dialogue with APEC leaders regarding Taiwan’s
major economic concerns and promote the nation’s desire to play a more important
role in the region. However, what interests Taiwanese most is his meeting with
Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) yesterday, although both sides have shed
little light on their discussions.
Another meeting of interest was between Mainland Affairs Council Minister Wang
Yu-chi (王郁琦), who joined Siew’s entourage this year as an adviser on
cross-strait issues, and China’s Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO) Director Zhang
Zhijun (張志軍). One positive note is that they referred to each other by their
official titles, representing progress in mutual recognition of each
government’s authority. It is also hoped that the meeting between the council
and TAO heads can be conducted on a regular basis to improve understanding
between the two sides and increase efficiency in dealing with cross-strait
issues.
The theme of this year’s APEC summit is “Resilient Asia-Pacific: Engine of
Global Growth.” Trade officials and business representatives have addressed
issues of closer regional trade cooperation and further economic integration
amid the nascent global recovery. Unfortunately, US President Barack Obama is
absent from the gathering because he is stuck in Washington dealing with the US
government shutdown.
Last week, Obama decided to call off his plans to attend the APEC summit as well
as ASEAN’s East Asia Summit in Brunei. He also canceled trips to Indonesia and
Malaysia. His decisions raise concerns that his strategic “pivot” toward Asia —
declared two years ago — is running out of steam.
If Obama had attended the APEC event as scheduled, he could have clarified
Washington’s position on the US Federal Reserve’s tapering and the US commitment
to this region. US Secretary of State John Kerry, who is filling in for Obama,
does not carry the same weight.
Obama has been pushing for the establishment of the Trans-Pacific Partnership
for years to counter China’s growing ambitions in this region. His absence
leaves more room for Xi — who made state visits to Indonesia and Malaysia last
week — to further China’s influence in this region, even though the region is
growing weary of Beijing’s territorial claims.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is likely to make a triumphant showing at the
APEC summit following a series of successful policy initiatives at home and
abroad, including the 3 percent hike in consumption tax, the moderate recovery
in Japan’s economy on the back of his economic policies and Tokyo’s winning bid
to host the 2020 Olympic Games.
For most APEC members, they would like assurance from Abe that his economic
revival program can support growth in Japan. They will also want to hear about
initiatives Japan may implement to strengthen regional ties for trade and
security.
Taiwanese are mainly focused on domestic and cross-strait issues, but they must
understand that international participation is the best defense — staying at
home will leave the field wide open for China.
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