WASHINGTON-
The United States has invited all members of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Forum to attend upcoming leadership-level meetings in California.
However, according to a senior State Department official, the issue of “adequate representation” of some leaders who are under US sanctions is being considered.
US Senior Representative to APEC Matt Murray spoke with Voice of America State Department Bureau Chief Nike Ching about the APEC summit, which begins in mid-November in San Francisco.
Representatives from 21 APEC economies will discuss a range of issues, including energy security, sustainable agricultural production, women’s economic empowerment and healthcare.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has been under sanctions since February 25, 2022 over the Russian invasion of Ukraine. In March, the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Putin. Although the United States does not recognize the ICC’s jurisdiction, President Joe Biden welcomed his decision and said it was justified because Putin “clearly committed war crimes.”
Speaking at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum in June 2022, Putin criticized the United States, asserted Russia’s power and warned that Western sanctions would be counterproductive.
John Lee became chief executive of Hong Kong on July 1, 2022. In 2020, the US Treasury imposed sanctions on him for undermining Hong Kong’s autonomy.
Lee downplayed the US sanctions, saying they have no legal basis in Hong Kong.
Asked whether the United States would invite Putin and Lee to APEC leaders’ meetings, Murray said the Biden administration would be guided by American “laws and norms.”
The US representative to APEC also said Washington and Beijing are working on arranging a one-on-one meeting between Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of APEC, but its details are still being worked out.
“We have invited all APEC members to attend Leadership Week in San Francisco,” Murray said. “We want to hold meetings not only in accordance with the spirit and principles of APEC, but also within the framework of US laws and regulations. There are a couple of cases of sanctions against APEC leaders here in the United States. So we have to resolve those situations so that they have adequate representation in San Francisco.”
Murray did not explain what he meant by “appropriate.”
