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Transcript/ScriptAPEC Explainer
HEADLINE: Asia Pacific Leaders’ Gathering “Unprecedented” In Light of World Conflicts
TEASER: What’s APEC, what’s on the agenda and what are the impacts?
PUBLISHED AT: 11/08/2023 at 6:29 pm
BYLINE: Elizabeth Lee
CONTRIBUTOR:
DATELINE: Washington
VIDEOGRAPHER: Adam Greenbaum, Elizabeth Lee
VIDEO EDITOR: Elizabeth Lee
ASSIGNING EDITOR: Jean Michel Mathurin
SCRIPT EDITORS: Bill Ide, Steve Baragona
VIDEO SOURCE (S): AP, AFP, VOA Original
PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB __ TV _X_ RADIO _X_
TRT:
VID APPROVED BY: mia
TYPE:
EDITOR NOTES:))
((INTRO: ))
[[The Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit convenes this month against a backdrop of unprecedented global turmoil, observers say. APEC’s discussions during this mid-November event are non-binding but can lay the foundation in other forums for more concrete agreements. VOA’s Elizabeth Lee has more on the agenda and what’s at stake in this year’s APEC Economic Leaders’ Week.]]
((NARRATOR))
From the Israel-Hamas conflict, to war in Ukraine, this year’s APEC meeting of world leaders is unlike any other in recent history.
((Ali Wyne, Eurasia Group Senior Analyst))
“It’s significant and arguably unprecedented. We have systemic instability right now the likes of which we probably haven’t seen since the end of the cold war.”
((NARRATOR))
There are also the potential economic ripple effects of these conflicts.
[[FOR RADIO: …says Ali Wyne, a senior analyst and expert on US-China relations at Eurasia Group.]]
((Ali Wyne, Eurasia Group Senior Analyst))
“There’s an arc of instability and it’s an arc of instability that connects regions through supply chains – that connects regions through a variety of other channels and it’s important to keep in mind, for all the talk about decoupling, de-risking, the global economy does remain substantially interdependent.”
((NARRATOR))
The 21 members of APEC not only differ in their opinions about the conflicts, there are also other sources of friction. There are territorial disagreements in the South China Sea
and tensions continue between the U.S. and China. Against this backdrop, countries will try to find common ground and discuss non-binding topics, with an agenda set by the host country.
[[RADIO: Matt Murray is the U.S. senior official for APEC.]]
((Matt Murray, US Senior Official for APEC))
“We've really focused on things like advancing a just energy transition in the Asia Pacific, advancing sustainable agri-food systems in the Asia Pacific, looking at sustainable and inclusive trade across the region.”
((NARRATOR)) ((voa video of ports))
Another area of concern: how to reduce supply chain risks, with lessons learned from the breakdown during the pandemic.
[[Former deputy U.S. trade representative, Robert Holleyman]]
((Robert Holleyman, Former Deputy US Trade Representative))
“I think what you will see is about sort of resilience redundancy to make sure that there's no one point of failure in the event of a pandemic.”
((NARRATOR)) ((port video))
For example, while the U.S. has been importing more goods from countries including Vietnam…
[[FOR RADIO: …China is still a part of the supply chain says Christopher Tang, professor at the University of California, Los Angeles.]]
((Christopher Tang, UCLA Business Professor))
“Ultimately, many of the raw materials and also the components, they’re still made in China.”
((NARRATOR))
China-U.S. relations will continue to be watched by APEC members even after the APEC leaders’ meeting, at a time when public perception in many countries tend to skew toward the U.S., and the U.S. is seen to intervene more in other countries affairs than China,
...according to surveys conducted by Pew Research.
[[FOR RADIO: Laura Silver is an associate director there.]]
((Laura Silver, Pew Research Center Associate Director))
“The U.S. is also largely seen to take into account the interests of other countries more than China, and to be more likely to contribute to global peace and stability.”
[[FOR RADIO: Again, Eurasia Group’s Ali Wyne]]
((Ali Wyne, Eurasia Group Senior Analyst))
“The United States and China are going to have to find a way to coexist. Unlike the cold war, which ended with the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Washington isn’t going anywhere, Beijing isn’t going anywhere, the competition, it will have its oscillations, but it’s a competition that isn’t going to have a definitive end.”
((NARRATOR))
In addition to China and the U.S., APEC economies make up approximately half the global trade and 60% of the world’s economy. And in an interconnected world, observers say leaders will need to transcend differences to combat issues such as climate change and food insecurity.
((Elizabeth Lee, VOA News, Washington))
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
NetworkVOA
Location (dateline)
in Washington D. C.
Embargo DateNovember 8, 2023 19:00 EST
Byline
Elizabeth Lee, VOA News
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
