APEC summit: Germany and New Zealand in the shadow of the world powers

It was still morning in Auckland and almost midnight in Berlin when New Zealand's Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Chancellor Angela Merkel connected via video. In the course of the conversation, Ardern expressed her gratitude to Merkel with full appreciation. Ardern remembered her first trip to Berlin shortly after taking office. At that time, Merkel mainly asked questions and wanted to learn more about her and her country, said Ardern. "When you come from a small island nation, it is not often that you find someone of so great importance in the world of international diplomacy who is so genuinely interested in the views of a humble New Zealander." Merkel's willingness to listen to the views of others , show that she is a true leader,"But also just a very good person".

Till Fähnders

Political Correspondent for Southeast Asia.

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Merkel endured the praise and greeted the Asia-Pacific Economic Community (APEC), which was to meet “virtually” on Friday for its annual summit under New Zealand's presidency.

She then said that Germany would continue to be “a fair partner” to the world, even if she was no longer Chancellor.

In the conversation with Ardern, whose zero-Covid rate was first considered the measure of all things, but is now also criticized by some in the country, the main focus was on the pandemic and the climate.

These were the topics that were to play the main role at the APEC summit.

Merkel and Ardern did not address the most important geopolitical question, whether there will be an open military conflict between the United States and China. This is also the metaphorical "Elephant in the Room" during this summit. The two rivals were represented at the highest level during the meeting of the 21 members. According to an agency report, American President Joe Biden and China's head of state Xi Jinping will meet again “virtually” on Monday, for the first time since Biden took office in January. Attempts had already been made to improve the atmosphere for discussion, for example with the Sino-American joint declaration at the climate summit in Glasgow. China has thus responded to Biden's request, which is not only in competition with China,but also wants to cooperate where it makes sense.

The search for a middle ground

Of course, this does not mean that the problems are overcome.

Xi Jinping had made this clear the day before when he warned of tensions such as those at the time of the Iron Curtain during the meeting with APEC business people, at which Merkel also spoke with Ardern on Friday.

"The Asia-Pacific region cannot and should not relapse into the confrontation and division of the Cold War," said Xi.

How such a summit can take place became clear in 2018, when China and America were showered with accusations and made the adoption of a declaration impossible. This had shown how difficult it is for major multilateral events in Asia to be under the influence of world power rivalries. During the summit opening on Friday, Ardern appealed to the participants: “With everything that is currently going on in the world, there is a better moment than this, our belief in the power of this institution, which makes us greater than it Sum of their individual parts to be renewed? "

It is becoming more important for small and medium-sized countries such as New Zealand and Germany to develop their own strategies and alliances in order not to depend on the world powers alone. Germany is trying to do this with the “guidelines” on the Indo-Pacific that it adopted a year ago and which provide for closer relations with countries such as Australia, Japan and the ASEAN confederation. New Zealand is interesting as a mouthpiece for the South Pacific island states, which are also more of a focus in the power struggle. The Federal Republic of Germany and New Zealand are also among the countries in the West that are somewhat more reluctant to criticize China than America and Australia. Among its closest allies, the so-called "Five Eyes", New Zealand is almost an outsider in this regard.

Most of the countries in the region are pursuing a middle ground, wanting not only trade with China but also a strong American presence in the region. According to experts, the Biden government has so far lacked a concept for the Indo-Pacific region, particularly when it comes to issues such as economy and trade, which APEC focuses on. But this will soon change, as Biden's security advisor Jake Sullivan had previously announced in a virtual speech at the Australian Lowy Institute. The government is working hard to develop “a vision” for its economic involvement in the region.

Above all, the gap left by the Trump administration's exit from the TPP regional trade agreement becomes apparent.

The successor agreement to the CPTPP has been ratified by most of the eleven members;

But Biden signals that his government is not considering a return.

For this, China applied for membership in September.

The move was officially welcomed by the member states, but it also poses problems for them.

Because just a few days after Beijing, Taiwan also submitted an application.

Beijing is against Taiwan's membership in international forums because it counts the island as part of its territory.

At the APEC summit, Taiwan wanted to seek support for accession.

Taiwan is also a member there, but under the name "Chinese Taipei".