APEC United States 2023

APEC meetings in San Francisco

APEC 2023 United States

Host country| United States
Date| November 11–17, 2023 (Economic Leaders' Meeting)
Venue(s)| San Francisco
Follows| 2022
Precedes| 2024
Website| www.apec2023sf.org

APEC 2023 United States was the year-long hosting of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meetings in the United States taking place in 2023. It was held in San Francisco.[1] APEC United States 2023 marked the third time the United States hosted an APEC meeting, having previously hosted in 1993 in Blake Island and 2011 in Honolulu. It featured a summit between U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

## Preparations

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In November 2023, San Francisco started clearing out all of the homeless people from certain parts of the city in preparation for the summit.[2] On September 25, a high-ranking official from the city's Public Works department emailed to city officials listing seven intersections to target, writing that due to the upcoming summit, he was "concerned about historical encampments that are close to priority areas". The San Francisco Chronicle noted that "All seven intersections are in the two neighborhoods that have long been at the epicenter of San Francisco’s unrelenting crises of homelessness and public drug markets."[2]

## Events

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### Participants

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Due to the sanctions imposed on him by the US government, Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee was not invited to the summit. In response, the Chinese foreign ministry reiterated its calls for the US to lift sanctions on Lee, and "fulfil the due responsibility as APEC host, invite Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu to the meeting".[3] Eventually, the Hong Kong government announced Lee would not attend due to "scheduling issues", with Financial Secretary Paul Chan attending in his place.[4] Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador initially announced he would not attend the summit due to disagreements with Peruvian President Dina Boluarte. However, he later changed his decision, saying he would attend.[5] Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has been issued an arrest warrant by the International Criminal Court following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, did not attend the summit, with Deputy Prime Minister Alexey Overchuk attending in his place.[6]

* APEC family photo in San Francisco

* Australia
Anthony Albanese,
Prime Minister

* Brunei
Hassanal Bolkiah,
Sultan

* Canada
Justin Trudeau,
Prime Minister

* Chile
Gabriel Boric,
President

* China
Xi Jinping,
President[a]

* Hong Kong*[b]
Paul Chan,
Financial Secretary

* Indonesia
Joko Widodo,
President

* Japan
Fumio Kishida,
Prime Minister

* South Korea
Yoon Suk Yeol,
President

* Malaysia
Anwar Ibrahim,
Prime Minister

* Mexico
Andrés Manuel López Obrador,
President

* New Zealand*[b]
Damien O'Connor,
Trade Minister

* Papua New Guinea
James Marape,
Prime Minister

* Peru
Dina Boluarte,
President

* Philippines
Bongbong Marcos,
President

* Russia*[b]
Alexey Overchuk,
Deputy Prime Minister

* Singapore
Lee Hsien Loong,
Prime Minister

* Taiwan
Morris Chang, Special Representative of Leader[c] (representing President Tsai Ing-wen)

* Thailand
Srettha Thavisin,
Prime Minister

* United States
Joe Biden,
President (Host)

* Vietnam
Võ Văn Thưởng,
President

### Invited guests

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* Colombia
Gustavo Petro[d], President

* Fiji
Sitiveni Rabuka[d], Prime Minister

* India
Piyush Goyal[d], Commerce and Industry Minister

## Sidelines

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### Biden–Xi summit

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Biden and Xi meeting

International coverage related to APEC 2023 focused on the summit between US President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping on 15 November, held separately from the APEC summit at the Filoli estate in Woodside, California.[11] Xi and Biden previously met virtually at the meeting hosted by New Zealand in 2021 – the first APEC summit of the Biden presidency – but Vice President Kamala Harris went in Biden's place to Thailand in 2022. (Xi hosted the 2014 APEC summit with U.S. President Barack Obama attending in Beijing. Obama and he had first met when Xi as Vice President, officially hosted by then-VP Biden, visited Washington in 2012.[12]) A substantial portion of the issues facing the two leaders also involve APEC members and the deep histories of all nations in the APEC region. Anticipation in the U.S. for the 2023 meeting by the two leaders preceded the event in San Francisco.[13][14][15]

### Protests and incidents

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Further information: Transnational repression by China

Demonstrations spanning a variety of issues, particularly objection to Xi Jinping's presence in the United States, took place near San Francisco International Airport and meeting site prior to Xi Jinping's arrival.[16][17][18] World Journal and Sing Tao Daily reported that hundreds were bused in from across the US to welcome Xi.[19][20] Multiple clashes were reported between Chinese dissidents and pro-Chinese government groups.[21][22][23] The nonprofit group Human Rights in China stated that evidence of assaults and selective police enforcement would be submitted to the United States House Select Committee on Strategic Competition between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party.[21][22] An investigation by The Washington Post found that "the most extreme violence was instigated by pro-CCP activists."[24]

Taiwanese reporters were harassed and stopped from filming near the St. Regis Museum Tower.[25]

The Congressional-Executive Commission on China subsequently condemned the attacks on protesters and urged further law enforcement investigation.[26] In August 2024, John Moolenaar, chair of the United States House Select Committee on Strategic Competition between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party, called on the Federal Bureau of Investigation and San Francisco Police Department to "hold the perpetrators accountable."[27][28]

## Notes

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1. ^ The president of China is legally a ceremonial office, but the general secretary of the Chinese Communist Party (de facto leader in one-party communist state) has always held this office since 1993 except for the months of transition, and the current general secretary is Xi Jinping, who is also the Chinese president.
2. ^ a b c (*) Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee, Russian President Vladimir Putin and outgoing New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins did not attend the leaders' summit. Representatives of each country were sent to attend on their behalf.
3. ^ Due to the complexities of the relations between it and the People's Republic of China, the Republic of China (ROC or "Taiwan") was 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 was 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.[citation needed]
4. ^ a b c The leaders of Colombia and Fiji,[7][8] as well as a representative for India,[9][10] attended the meeting as the invited guests of host Joe Biden.

## References

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1. ^ "FAQs 1". APEC Leaders' Meeting 2023—San Francisco. Archived from the original on November 12, 2023. Retrieved November 12, 2023.
2. ^ a b Morris, J.D.; Fagan, Kevin (November 9, 2023). "'They just said we had to go': S.F. clears homeless hot spots ahead of APEC". San Francisco Chronicle. Archived from the original on November 11, 2023. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
3. ^ Leung, Kanis (July 28, 2023). "China demands US invite Hong Kong leader to economic meeting, adding to strains over crackdown". Associated Press. Archived from the original on November 12, 2023. Retrieved November 12, 2023.
4. ^ Cheng, Lilian; Chan, Kahon (November 2, 2023). "Sanctioned Hong Kong leader John Lee did get a 'personal invite' to Apec but will his absence spare city from cross hairs of US-China tensions?". South China Morning Post. Archived from the original on November 12, 2023. Retrieved November 12, 2023.
5. ^ "In u-turn, Mexico president to meet Biden at November APEC summit". Reuters. October 9, 2023. Archived from the original on November 12, 2023. Retrieved November 12, 2023.
6. ^ "US says to be 'good hosts' to Russia at APEC summit". Agence France-Presse. November 13, 2023. Archived from the original on November 16, 2023. Retrieved November 16, 2023 - via France 24.
7. ^ "Colombia Leader Is Surprise Addition to US Asia-Pacific Forum". Bloomberg. November 12, 2023. Archived from the original on November 11, 2023. Retrieved November 20, 2023.
8. ^ "Fiji PM invited to APEC Summit; will highlight high profile regional issues". The Fiji Times. November 17, 2023. Archived from the original on November 20, 2023. Retrieved November 20, 2023.
9. ^ "Piyush Goyal meets US President Joe Biden at APEC welcome reception". Doordarshan News. November 17, 2023. Archived from the original on November 24, 2023. Retrieved November 20, 2023.
10. ^ "APEC Leaders' Meeting 2023 Session I". Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan. November 16, 2023. Archived from the original on November 20, 2023. Retrieved November 20, 2023.
11. ^ Hunnicutt, Trevor; Jeff Mason; Steve Holland (November 16, 2023). "Biden, Xi's 'blunt' talks yield deals on military, fentanyl". Reuters. Archived from the original on November 16, 2023. Retrieved November 16, 2023.
12. ^ Bull, Alister; Chris Buckley (January 24, 2012). "China leader-in-waiting Xi to visit White House next month". Reuters. Archived from the original on October 29, 2013. Retrieved October 28, 2018.
13. ^ Kuo, Lily (November 15, 2023). "China's Xi, in need of a win, appears ready to engage with Biden". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Archived from the original on November 14, 2023. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
14. ^ Rogers, Katie; David E. Sanger (November 14, 2023). "U.S. Manages Expectations of a Breakthrough Before Biden and Xi Meet". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on November 15, 2023. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
15. ^ Ip, Greg, "Why Xi can no longer brag about the Chinese economy", Wall Street Journal, November 14, 2023. Retrieved 2023-11-23. (subscription required) Archived November 14, 2023, at the Wayback Machine
16. ^ Lee, Jaclyn (November 15, 2023). "Opposing groups clash at SFO before President Xi's arrival". KGO-TV. Archived from the original on November 15, 2023. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
17. ^ "Activists Protest China's Xi Even Before He Arrives at APEC". Voice of America. November 13, 2023. Archived from the original on November 14, 2023. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
18. ^ "Protesters clash as China's leader Xi Jinping arrives at SFO for APEC". KTVU. November 14, 2023. Archived from the original on November 15, 2023. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
19. ^ 世界新聞網. "僑界赴金山挺習近平 組千人巴士團 保安荷槍實彈護航". World Journal (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Archived from the original on November 15, 2023. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
20. ^ "南加州華人華僑近千人 赴三藩市迎接習近平到訪". Sing Tao Daily (in Chinese). November 15, 2023. Archived from the original on November 19, 2023. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
21. ^ a b "Anti-Xi Protesters Say San Francisco Police Ignored Beatings During APEC". Voice of America. November 23, 2023. Archived from the original on November 28, 2023. Retrieved November 27, 2023.
22. ^ a b McCartney, Micah (November 22, 2023). "Police accused of inaction as anti-CCP activists assaulted in San Francisco". Newsweek. Archived from the original on November 27, 2023. Retrieved November 28, 2023.
23. ^ Sjostedt, David (November 14, 2023). "San Francisco APEC Sees Dueling Protests Before Xi's Arrival". The San Francisco Standard. Archived from the original on August 1, 2024. Retrieved July 30, 2024.
24. ^ Mahtani, Shibani; Kelly, Meg; Brown, Cate; Cadell, Cate; Nakashima, Ellen; Dehghanpoor, Chris (September 3, 2024). "How China extended its repression into an American city". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on September 4, 2024. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
25. ^ "Reporters harassed outside Xi's hotel at APEC forum". Focus Taiwan. November 14, 2023. Archived from the original on November 14, 2023. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
26. ^ "Congress members, activists decry assaults against anti-China protesters during San Francisco summit". Associated Press. November 30, 2023. Archived from the original on January 17, 2024. Retrieved November 30, 2023.
27. ^ Willemyns, Alex (August 2, 2024). "Protesters in US were attacked by Beijing-linked figures: report". Radio Free Asia. Archived from the original on August 3, 2024. Retrieved August 3, 2024.
28. ^ Smith, Nicola (July 30, 2024). "Xi Jinping's lackeys 'hid behind Chinese flags to beat up protesters in San Francisco'". The Daily Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Archived from the original on August 2, 2024. Retrieved August 4, 2024.

## External links

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* Official website

Preceded by

APEC Thailand 2022

|  APEC meetings
2023  | Succeeded by

APEC Peru 2024

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