Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is set to engage in a week of significant diplomacy as he participates in the ASEAN and APEC summits in South Korea and Malaysia. These gatherings will focus on pressing issues, including the impact of Donald Trump‘s tariffs and China’s expanding influence in the Pacific. With Mr. Trump expected to attend both events, discussions among world leaders are anticipated to revolve around these critical themes.
The ASEAN summit in South Korea will provide a platform for Albanese to meet with various international counterparts, while the APEC summit in Malaysia will further explore regional cooperation. Notably, Mr. Trump plans to sign a trade agreement with the Malaysian Prime Minister and oversee a peace agreement between Cambodia and Thailand. He is also scheduled for a meeting with his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping. Following their recent successful meeting at the White House, where they signed a vital minerals agreement, Mr. Trump is likely to have an informal conversation with Albanese during the summits.
As the summits unfold, the influence of tariffs imposed by the United States under Trump’s administration weighs heavily on negotiations. According to Pru Gordon, a former Australian trade official and current Executive Director of the Australian Centre for International Trade and Investment, many countries are seeking more favorable terms in light of the tariffs. She stated, “I wouldn’t be surprised if he leaves early, because he will be getting polite ear bashing from other leaders.”
Despite the challenges posed by the trade war, Dr. Gordon highlighted that the vast majority of World Trade Organization members continue to trade with one another effectively. “There are 166 members of the WTO. One hundred and sixty-five of those are continuing to trade with each other as they did before,” she noted.
Regional Leaders Navigate Diplomatic Landscape
The anticipated meeting between Trump and Xi is expected to be a focal point of the summits. John Blaxland, an international security expert at the Australian National University, indicated that Southeast Asian nations are likely to avoid taking sides between the two major powers. Countries traditionally supportive of China, such as Cambodia and Laos, are still open to collaboration with Australia, albeit discreetly.
Professor Blaxland emphasized that diplomatic relations in the region are complex and not strictly aligned. “The great power game is on. But it doesn’t mean we have to stop being constructive in our engagement with our neighbours,” he stated. This nuanced approach reflects the desire among countries in the region to balance their interests amid the ongoing geopolitical tensions.
As the ASEAN and APEC summits progress, the outcomes of discussions surrounding trade, diplomacy, and regional cooperation will be closely monitored. The interactions among leaders, particularly in the context of the Trump-Xi meeting, are likely to shape future relations in the Indo-Pacific region.
