Chilean government cancels Apec and COP25 in the country after protests

Chile has given up hosting an Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) trade summit in November and the COP25 climate summit in December because of several weeks of violent riots, President Sebastián Piñera said on Wednesday (10/30).

The APEC summit would bring together 20 world leaders, including US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping in November 16 and 17. The United Nations Conference on Climate Change (COP25) would have happened from December 2 to 13.

“This was a very difficult decision, a decision that causes us a lot of suffering because we fully understand the importance of Apec and COP25 for Chile and the world,” Piñera said in a short statement at the La Moneda Palace in Santiago.

Riots, arson, and anti-inequality protests this month left at least 18 people dead, 7,000 arrested and damages of about US$1.4bn to Chilean companies. The subway in the capital suffered at least US$400m in damage.

In a scenario in which Piñera’s popularity has reached its lowest level, Chileans are calling for new protests and the United Nations is sending a team to investigate allegations of human rights abuses.

The cancellation of the trade forum took the Trump government by surprise, a White House official told Reuters.

The official said Washington learned of the decision through news reports and is seeking more information.

Source: Reuters

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