Leaders from 21 countries and self-governing territories are in Manila
for the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit. Trade, business and
economic issues are on the meeting’s official agenda, but terrorism,
South China Sea disputes and climate change are also set to be in focus.
Latest developments
7.40 a.m. IST: A barricade of police, vans and fire trucks blocks
about 1,000 anti-globalisation protesters marching on the venue of the
Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation leaders’ meeting in Manila.
Police are using water cannons and canes to try and disperse the increasingly rowdy protest.
Earlier about 100 students clashed with police at a public square, with
the two sides pushing and shoving and police beating protesters with
their batons after the students crossed over a security barricade.
The protesters carry banners that read “Junk APEC” and “Down with the Puppet U.S.-Aquino Regime.”
Protest leader Renato Reyes of the left-wing alliance Bayan says over
the past two decades “APEC and imperialist globalization have only
benefited the rich countries while further impoverishing developing
countries like the Philippines”.
Protesters also marched toward a separate media centre for the APEC meetings.
3.20 p.m. IST, Wednesday: China’s President Xi Jinping and his
APEC summit host Philippine President Benigno Aquino III have briefly
met as the two days of leaders’ meetings officially begins.
According to presidential spokesman Herminio Coloma, Mr. Aquino said:
“Welcome, President Xi! Thank you for coming to Manila and attending the
APEC meeting.” He then gestured for Mr. Xi to join the other leaders.
China is at odds with the Philippines and other Southeast Asian nations
over China’s expansive claims to the South China Sea. The disputes are
not part of the APEC agenda.
Meanwhile, Mr. Aquino and President Barack Obama have had a meeting and
joint press conference and Mr. Obama has underlined his support for
allies in the region such as the Philippines.
12.45 p.m. IST, Wednesday: Police have thwarted activists dressed
as animals from bringing climate change and animal rights to the
attention of APEC leaders.
A “jeepney” vehicle full of PETA activists in full body animal costumes
was making its way around Manila’s financial district Makati where Mr.
Obama, Mr. Xi and other leaders were speaking. But it was stopped by
police before getting near the venue.
A kangaroo was holding a sign that read “I Am Not Leather” while a pig
held a sign in Spanish “Stop Climate Change, Go Vegan.” A seal, a rat, a
cow, and an elephant were also inside the jeepney, holding placards in
various languages and waving to people on the streets.
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals campaigner Ashley Fruno says
“We were shocked that our event was stopped, as all we were doing was
advocating for kindness and reminding APEC leaders and delegates that
animal agriculture is a leading cause of climate change.”
10.40 a.m. IST, Wednesday: About two hundred protesters trying to march on the venues for APEC meetings are blocked by riot police.
Security is very tight in the Philippines capital as world leaders meet for two days as part of the APEC summit.
Protesters jostled with police and burnt a mock U.S. flag.
Vincent Crisostomo of anti-globalisation group Anakbayan says, “APEC is an enemy of the Filipino people.”
9.50 a.m. IST, Wednesday: Mr. Xi is seeking to reassure regional
economic and political leaders that his government will keep the world’s
No. 2 economy growing.
Mr. Xi told a business conference on the sidelines of the APEC summit
that China is committed to reforming its economy and raising the living
standards of its people.
Mr. Xi did not comment on South China Sea disputes.
8.45 a.m. IST, Wednesday: Mr. Obama is calling on China to halt further land reclamation and new construction in the South China Sea.
Mr. Obama is meeting with Mr. Aquino on the sidelines of the APEC summit. He’s calling for “bold steps” to lower tensions.
Mr. Obama says he and Mr. Aquino discussed the impact that China’s land
reclamation is having on regional stability. He’s adding that maritime
disputes need to be resolved peacefully.
Mr. Aquino says freedom of navigation and overflight in the South China
Sea must be continuously ensured, consistent with international law.
8.40 a.m. IST, Wednesday: Local news reports say a woman in
labour failed to reach hospital and delivered her baby on a Manila
sidewalk, assisted by police, after getting caught in horrendous traffic
due to road closures for APEC.
ABS-CBN news website posted pictures from eyewitness Angel Ramos-Canoy
of the woman being helped off a motorcycle and assisted on the sidewalk,
apparently in labour. Reports say the incident happened on Monday.
Cely Gonzales of the San Juan de Dios Hospital says the woman did not
want to be interviewed. Ms. Gonzales says, “the mother and baby boy are
doing well and are about to be discharged.”
8.10 a.m. IST, Wednesday: Mr. Obama tells a business conference
on the sidelines of APEC that nations must achieve an “ambitious
framework” to limit global warming.
Mr. Obama and dozens of other leaders will meet in Paris at the end of the month to finalize a carbon-cutting deal.
Mr. Obama urged businesses to view responses to climate change as an
opportunity. He says there’s no contradiction between economic
development and protecting the environment.
“My message to you today is your businesses can do right by your bottom lines and also the planet.”
7.40 a.m. IST, Wednesday: Manila residents are complaining of
difficulties getting to work and a fake image of the Philippines being
presented to the world during the APEC meetings.
Roads have been closed to regular traffic in central Manila and other
efforts made to spruce up the usually traffic clogged city.
Trixie Logan, 19, says it’s “a bit off because it’s like fake beauty,
because they hid the problems around just to say that the Philippines is
beautiful”.
Many workers whose offices are near the APEC venues are walking for
several kilometers to get to work because of the tight security.
Jaime Rocete, 63, says, “Workers are having a difficult time, especially
for those who are sick, with arthritis, it’s hard to walk.”
Data that may be helpful:
Important Points:-
Important Points:-
- APEC: Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit
- Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) is a forum for 21 Pacific Rim member economies that promotes free trade throughout the Asia-Pacific region.
- 27th APEC Summit 2015 :- 16 - 18 Nov 2015, APEC CEO Summit, Manila, Philippines (second time the Philippines is playing host to the APEC, having hosted the event previously in 1996)
- 26 th APEC Summit 2014 :- 10–12 November at International Conference Center, Beijing, China
- 28th APEC Summit 2016 :- Lima, Peru
- China’s President Xi Jinping
- Philippine President Benigno Aquino III
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