China urges Apec to share growth gains fairlyshare growth gains fairly
China’s top trade negotiator Li Chenggang called on Asia-Pacific economies to reject zero-sum thinking as Apec trade representatives met in eastern China on Friday.
The message came as members of the 21-economy forum discussed regional economic cooperation, underscoring Beijing’s push to present itself as a defender of open trade amid wider friction with the United States.
The talks matter because Apec shapes trade rules and economic ties across a major share of the global economy.
- Apec members include both the United States and China, making it one of the few large forums where they meet regularly.
- Apec decisions are usually non-binding, so influence often comes from consensus rather than formal enforcement.
- China hosted Apec leaders’ meetings in 2014, when the country also pushed a stronger regional trade agenda.
US-China Indo-Pacific Rivalry
China and Taiwan coast guard vessels have repeatedly faced off near the Pratas Islands, with the latest standoff showing how small maritime incidents around Taiwan can quickly become confrontations.[1][5] The episode adds to wider U.S.-China military tension across the Indo-Pacific, where Beijing is expanding patrols and Washington is reinforcing regional deterrence.[2][3] The rivalry now centers on preventing miscalculation around Taiwan, the South China Sea, and nearby sea lanes.[1][3][5] It also shapes defense planning by Taiwan, Japan, the Philippines, and the United States as all sides weigh coercion, sovereignty claims, and the risk of escalation.[2][3]
24 May, 07:39 AM
Taiwan and China coast guards face off near Pratas islands1 January
The United States adopts a sharper great-power competition strategy focused on China
