APEC Papua New Guinea 2018
pn
Host countryPapua New Guinea
Date17–18 November 2018
Venue(s)Port Moresby
Follows2017
Precedes2019
Websitewww.apec2018png.org

APEC Papua New Guinea 2018 was the year-long hosting of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meetings in Papua New Guinea.[1]

It was the first time Papua New Guinea hosted the APEC meetings.[2] Australia provided a quarter to a third of the cost to host the meetings and also helped with logistics and security (G4S). Three cruise ships were chartered through an Australian company to cater to the some 10,000 delegates and guests.[1][3]

Many of the attendees and delegations had previously attended the 2018 East Asia Summit held from 11 to 15 November in Singapore, hosted by the Chairperson Lee Hsien Loong, the Prime Minister of Singapore. Thereafter, many of the state leaders, including Prime Minister Lee of Singapore, flew from Singapore to Papua New Guinea.

Events

Economic Leaders' Meeting

Attendees

This was the first APEC meeting for Chilean President Sebastián Piñera, Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, and Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, since their inaugurations and appointments on 11 March 2018, 10 May 2018, and 24 August 2018, respectively; Piñera and Mahathir had previously attended multiple APEC meetings in their first term as president and prime minister, respectively. It was also the last APEC meeting for the host Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Peter O'Neill, who stepped down in 29 May 2019. Additionally, this was the last APEC meeting for Malaysian Prime Minister Mohamad and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, following their respective resignations in 2020 as the planned 2019 summit was cancelled due to the protests in Chile. While Nguyễn Xuân Phúc attended for the last time as the Prime Minister of Vietnam before he was elected President in 2021.

Five presidents did not attend the summit – Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto, Peruvian President Martín Vizcarra, Russian President Vladimir Putin, United States President Donald Trump, and Vietnamese President Nguyễn Phú Trọng.[4] Peña Nieto was represented by Mexican Under Secretary of Foreign Trade Juan Carlos Baker, while Vizcarra sent Peruvian Foreign Minister Nestor Popolizio in his place.[4] Putin was represented by former Russian President, now Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, while Trump sent Vice President Mike Pence in his place. Nguyễn Phú Trọng was represented by Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc respectively.[4]

Attendees at the
2018 APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting
Member economy Name as used in APEC Position Name
 AustraliaAustraliaPrime MinisterScott Morrison
 BruneiBrunei DarussalamSultanHassanal Bolkiah
 CanadaCanadaPrime MinisterJustin Trudeau
 ChileChilePresidentSebastián Piñera
 ChinaPeople's Republic of ChinaPresidentXi Jinping
 Hong KongHong Kong, China[5]Chief ExecutiveCarrie Lam
 IndonesiaIndonesiaPresidentJoko Widodo
 JapanJapanPrime MinisterShinzō Abe
 South KoreaRepublic of KoreaPresidentMoon Jae-in
 MalaysiaMalaysiaPrime MinisterMahathir Mohamad
 Mexico*MexicoUnder Secretary of Foreign TradeJuan Carlos Baker
 New ZealandNew ZealandPrime MinisterJacinda Ardern
 Papua New GuineaPapua New GuineaPrime MinisterPeter O'Neill (host)
 Peru*PeruForeign MinisterNestor Popolizio
 PhilippinesPhilippinesPresidentRodrigo Duterte
 Russia*RussiaPrime MinisterDmitry Medvedev
 SingaporeSingaporePrime MinisterLee Hsien Loong
 TaiwanChinese Taipei[6]Special Representative of PresidentMorris Chang
 ThailandThailandPrime MinisterPrayut Chan-o-cha
 United States*The United StatesVice PresidentMike Pence
 Vietnam*Viet NamPrime MinisterNguyễn Xuân Phúc
(*) Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto, Peruvian President Martín Vizcarra, Russian President Vladimir Putin, United States President Donald Trump, and Vietnamese President Nguyễn Phú Trọng did not attend the leaders summit. Representatives of each country were sent to attend on their behalf.

Invited Attendees

Leaders and representatives of Pacific Island nations were invited by Papua New Guinea to attend the "APEC Leaders' Dialogue with Pacific Island Leaders" on 17 November.[7][8]

Pacific Island Attendees at the
2018 APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting[7][9]
Pacific Island attendee Name Position
 Cook Islands Henry Puna Prime Minister
 Fiji Inoke Kubuabola Minister for National Security and Defence
France French Polynesia Tearii Alpha Minister of Primary Resource Development, Land Use, Development and Mining
 Kiribati David Ateti Teaabo Special envoy for President Taneti Mamau
 Marshall Islands Hilda Heine President
 Micronesia Peter M. Christian President
 Nauru Baron Waqa President
 Niue Toke Talagi Premier
 Samoa Tuilaepa Aiono Sailele Malielegaoi Prime Minister
 Solomon Islands Rick Houenipwela Prime Minister
 Tonga ʻAkilisi Pōhiva Prime Minister
 Tuvalu Enele Sopoaga Prime Minister
 Vanuatu Charlot Salwai Prime Minister

Absence of declaration and aftermath

According to Reuters, "the leaders failed to agree on a communique at a summit in Papua New Guinea on Sunday for the first time in their history as deep divisions between the United States and China over trade and investment stymied cooperation."[10] Also according to same article: "O’Neill said that as APEC host, he would release a Chairman’s Statement, though it was not clear when."[10] O'Neill said that the talks broke down over language about the World Trade Organization[11] while Reuters reported that the cause for the impasse was disagreement on portions of the draft communique relating to the WTO which mentioned opposing "unfair trade practices" and reforming the WTO, while another concerned sustainable development.[10]

Security

Much of the security for the meeting was provided by the Australian Defence Force (ADF) at an estimated cost of AUD130 million.[12] The Papua New Guinea Government passed special legislation which gave unprecedented powers to foreign forces and security personnel to protect visiting leaders.[13] The ADF supplied about 1500 personnel with airspace security provided by the Royal Australian Air Force and maritime security support provided by the Royal Australian Navy.[14]

Other nations to provide security support to the summit included New Zealand, the United States, China, Canada, Japan and Indonesia.[12] In total, about 2000 foreign military personnel were involved.[15]

The New Zealand Defence Force provided the offshore Patrol Vessel HMNZS Otago with about 75 crew to assist with maritime security, a P-3 Orion detachment with 20 personnel to provide aerial surveillance, and up to 30 Special Operation Forces personnel. [16] The United States Coast Guard provided in shore security in Port Moresby.[13][17][18]

References

  1. 1 2 Thomas, Andrew (25 February 2018). "Papua New Guinea to host APEC, biggest event in its history". Al Jazeera.
  2. "Interview: PNG ready to host a successful APEC summit, says APEC minister". Xinhua. 3 April 2018. Archived from the original on 2 April 2018.
  3. "Trump to attend APEC in PNG". SBS News. 3 April 2018.
  4. 1 2 3 "Four Presidents not at APEC: Four Presidents have been confirmed as no shows at APEC PNG 2018 in Port Moresby". Papua New Guinea Post-Courier. 18 November 2018. Archived from the original on 18 November 2018. Retrieved 19 November 2018.
  5. Hong Kong joined APEC in 1991 during British administration with the name "Hong Kong." In 1997, Hong Kong became a Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China and took the name "Hong Kong, China."
  6. Due to the complexities of the relations between it and the People's Republic of China, the Republic of China (ROC or "Taiwan") is not represented under its official name "Republic of China" or as "Taiwan". Instead, it participates in APEC under the name "Chinese Taipei". The President of the Republic of China does not attend the annual APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in person. Instead, it is generally represented by a ministerial-level official responsible for economic affairs or someone designated by the president. See List of Chinese Taipei Representatives to APEC.
  7. 1 2 "Pacific leaders are most welcome to APEC 2018 in Port Moresby". Papua New Guinea Post-Courier. 15 November 2018. Archived from the original on 19 November 2018. Retrieved 19 November 2018.
  8. "APEC Economic Leaders' Week: Media Registration Open". Papua New Guinea Post-Courier. 15 October 2018. Archived from the original on 19 November 2018. Retrieved 19 November 2018.
  9. Kenneth, Gorethy (16 November 2018). "Pacific island leaders to meet with President Xi". Papua New Guinea Post-Courier. Archived from the original on 19 November 2018. Retrieved 19 November 2018.
  10. 1 2 3 Wen, Philip; Barrett, Jonathan; Westbrook, Tom (18 November 2018). "APEC fails to reach consensus as U.S.-China divide deepens". Reuters. Retrieved 19 November 2018.
  11. Bacon, John (18 November 2018). "'Entire world is worried' after rancorous Asia-Pacific trade summit". CBS19. USA Today. Archived from the original on 26 July 2020. Retrieved 19 November 2018.
  12. 1 2 Brett Mason (10 October 2018). "Australian fighter jets, warships to secure 'vibrant' PNG APEC". SBS Australia. Retrieved 14 December 2021.
  13. 1 2 Johnny Blades (23 October 2018). "APEC security law seen as violation of PNG constitution". Radio NZ. Retrieved 14 December 2021.
  14. "Defence supports PNG security effort for APEC 2018". Australian Minister of Defence. 12 October 2018. Retrieved 14 December 2021.
  15. "Foreign troops pour into Papua New Guinea for APEC summit". Al Jazeera. 12 November 2018. Retrieved 14 December 2021.
  16. "NZDF to provide security support at APEC 2018 in PNG". 6 November 2018. Retrieved 14 December 2021.
  17. "U.S. Provides Port Security for Papua New Guinea Summit". The Maritime Executive. 9 November 2018. Retrieved 14 December 2021.
  18. "United States Coast Guard to Bolster APEC Security". 26 October 2018. Retrieved 14 December 2021.
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