![Pinterest](https://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https://uknews.evprotec.com/macron-and-xi-trade-blows-over-asia-pacific-power-struggle/&media=https://uknews.evprotec.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/TELEMMGLPICT000316505251_trans_NvBQzQNjv4BqpVlberWd9EgFPZtcLiMQf0Rf_Wk3V23H2268P_XkPxc.jpeg&description=France's Emmanuel Macron and China's Xi Jinping traded barbs over their competing visions for the highly strategic Asia-Pacific area on Thursday, as world leaders landed in Thailand for a regional summit. "In this highly contested region, which is the theatre of a confrontation between the two major world powers, our strategy is to defend freedom and sovereignty," Mr Macron said. He landed in Bangkok late Wednesday for the Asia Pacific Economic Coordination (APEC) forum aiming to relaunch France's strategic ambitions in the region after the humiliating blow of Australia cancelling a major submarine contract in 2021. Mr Macron also said France was advancing cooperation with Indonesia on the provision of warplanes and submarines. The two countries signed a $8.1 billion deal earlier this year for 42 Rafale fighter jets, as part of a series of agreements that also included an order of two Scorpnene submarines, making Jakarta the biggest French arms client in Southeast Asia. But Chinese President Mr Xi also laid out his own view of the region, saying Asia-Pacific was no one's backyard and should not become an arena for a big power contest. "No attempt to wage a new cold war would ever be allowed by the people or by our times," he said according to a written speech reported by Chinese state media on Thursday.){kind=link}
The pair are in Thailand for the Asia Pacific Economic Coordination forum
France’s Emmanuel Macron and China’s Xi Jinping traded barbs over their competing visions for the highly strategic Asia-Pacific area on Thursday, as world leaders landed in Thailand for a regional summit.
“In this highly contested region, which is the theatre of a confrontation between the two major world powers, our strategy is to defend freedom and sovereignty,” Mr Macron said.
He landed in Bangkok late Wednesday for the Asia Pacific Economic Coordination (APEC) forum aiming to relaunch France’s strategic ambitions in the region after the humiliating blow of Australia cancelling a major submarine contract in 2021.
Mr Macron also said France was advancing cooperation with Indonesia on the provision of warplanes and submarines.