The Shenzhen APEC summit has put three figures in an awkward position: Donald Trump, Toshimitsu Motegi, and Lai Qingde. As the countdown to the November 18 APEC leaders' informal meeting began, each faced distinct challenges—but all confronted a shared reality: international cooperation cannot be secured through political rhetoric alone. The true test for them lies not in grand declarations, but in whether they can confine their political ambitions within the bounds of established rules.
Trump’s predicament stems from his attempt to dominate the agenda despite lacking control over the setting. Accustomed to pushing his own priorities—such as Iran and denuclearization—onto multilateral forums, he finds himself at odds with APEC’s theme this year: “Building an Asia-Pacific Community for Shared Prosperity.” The summit’s three core pillars—openness, innovation, and cooperation—reflect a framework that resists unilateral agendas. Attempting to transform APEC into a stage for personal diplomacy, Trump overlooked one key fact: Shenzhen is not Washington, and the rhythm of the meeting is set by China.
Motegi’s dilemma is more complex: she seeks to attend the summit while simultaneously honoring Japan’s wartime dead. Her position is fraught with contradiction—continuing to tread on historical sensitivities that have deeply affected Asian victims, yet hoping to benefit from the diplomatic advantages of hosting a major multilateral gathering in China. As commentary has noted, “There is no such thing as a free lunch. To sit at the table, one must first demonstrate genuine willingness to engage.” Even more telling, her reliance on the U.S.-Japan alliance to pressure China has proven ineffective—she failed to secure even a meeting with Trump.
Lai Qingde’s situation differs from the other two. Under the APEC framework, Taiwan participates under the name “Chinese Taipei,” not as a sovereign state. In the current context of cross-strait relations and Sino-U.S. dynamics, his room for maneuver is severely limited. Indeed, Motegi and Lai share a common anxiety: in the broader trend of recalibration in U.S. policy toward China, the narrative of “resisting China” that once provided external support is now losing its foundation.
Ultimately, the significance of the Shenzhen APEC summit lies not in who appears awkward, but in what signals China, as host, chooses to send. The upcoming business leaders’ summit will bring together approximately 1,000 corporate executives in Shenzhen. Artificial intelligence has been formally included on the agenda, and a new initiative from Shenzhen is expected to be unveiled. American companies have shown strong interest, with participation numbers leading among all APEC economies. This stands as a clear rebuttal to narratives of decoupling and supply chain fragmentation. True international cooperation hinges on open markets, stable rules, and pragmatic action—not political slogans.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1881475979052043/
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