TruthTheOnlyDefense
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58 MINUTES AGO NOVEMBER 18, 2018
Papua New Guinea's Foreign Minister Rimbink Pato speaks during the APEC Ministerial Meeting.
Strategic tensions reached boiling point at APEC in Papua New Guinea after it emerged a group of Chinese officials sought to influence host nation’s Foreign Minister Rimbink Pato over the wording of the summit’s official communique.
Four Chinese officials were banished from Mr Pato’s office at Port Moresby’s International Convention Centre yesterday after they sought a private audience with Mr Pato, amid wrangling over the wording of the statement
A spokesman for Mr Pato said the minister was in his office when Chinese officials demanded to see him, but they were denied entry.
The spokesman said the minister would not deal with officials and the attempt to see the minister was inappropriate, as the Foreign Minister dealt only with counterpart ministers.
It’s understood security guards were called to usher the officials out of his Mr Pato’s office.
The move came as APEC drafters argued over the wording of a ministerial communique about 1pm.
The incident follows a protocol breach at the recent Pacific Island Forum , where a Chinese official staged a dramatic walkout when Taiwan-supporting Nauru blocked his attempt to address the forum.
The escalating tensions between China and the US in the Pacific over trade and security have been a focal point of the summit, but Prime Minister Scott Morrison insisted progress was being made.
At a press conference on Sunday he played down suggestions relations in the Pacific were fractured.
“I think that overly exaggerates the situation,” the Prime Minister said.
“I think there is a lot more pragmatism going on here than people have been prepared to acknowledge in the commentary.
“There’s a lot of movement under the water.”
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/ne...p/news-story/c8e8adfa0c690ca32c3f727979b9f519
Papua New Guinea's Foreign Minister Rimbink Pato speaks during the APEC Ministerial Meeting.
Strategic tensions reached boiling point at APEC in Papua New Guinea after it emerged a group of Chinese officials sought to influence host nation’s Foreign Minister Rimbink Pato over the wording of the summit’s official communique.
Four Chinese officials were banished from Mr Pato’s office at Port Moresby’s International Convention Centre yesterday after they sought a private audience with Mr Pato, amid wrangling over the wording of the statement
A spokesman for Mr Pato said the minister was in his office when Chinese officials demanded to see him, but they were denied entry.
The spokesman said the minister would not deal with officials and the attempt to see the minister was inappropriate, as the Foreign Minister dealt only with counterpart ministers.
It’s understood security guards were called to usher the officials out of his Mr Pato’s office.
The move came as APEC drafters argued over the wording of a ministerial communique about 1pm.
The incident follows a protocol breach at the recent Pacific Island Forum , where a Chinese official staged a dramatic walkout when Taiwan-supporting Nauru blocked his attempt to address the forum.
The escalating tensions between China and the US in the Pacific over trade and security have been a focal point of the summit, but Prime Minister Scott Morrison insisted progress was being made.
At a press conference on Sunday he played down suggestions relations in the Pacific were fractured.
“I think that overly exaggerates the situation,” the Prime Minister said.
“I think there is a lot more pragmatism going on here than people have been prepared to acknowledge in the commentary.
“There’s a lot of movement under the water.”
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/ne...p/news-story/c8e8adfa0c690ca32c3f727979b9f519
