Asia summit bust up: Balance of Power Extra

[Balance of Power]( From [Bloomberg Politics]( [FOLLOW US [Facebook Share]]( [Twitter Share]( [SUBSCRIBE [Subscribe]](  The odds of a thaw when Xi Jinping and Donald Trump meet in a few weeks at the Group of 20 summit in Argentina just got longer. With the China-U.S. trade war deepening, leaders of 21 Asia-Pacific nations meeting in Papua New Guinea failed to agree on a communique after arguments over issues such as reform of the World Trade Organization. The wrangling reflects the broader tensions that have risen under Trump as he seeks to make trade not just free but ‘fair.’ For too long, he argues, China has worked to disadvantage American companies. At the same time, Trump’s attacks have arguably weakened institutions such as the WTO and spurred a global outbreak of protectionism. Xi warned at the summit that a trade war will produce “[no winners](.” Plans for Trump and Xi to meet at the G-20 have raised hopes for some sort of rapprochement between two leaders who appear to admire each other personally. Trump has said he’s optimistic heading into their chat. But [the harsh rhetoric]( from Xi and Vice-President Mike Pence in Papua New Guinea, combined with the collapse of the communique, suggests a deal in Buenos Aries faces mounting obstacles. - [Rosalind Mathieson](  November 2017. Photographer: Kyodo News/Kyodo News Stills Key Takeaways [The Quad gains steam]( | Potentially the most important meeting at the summits in Asia wasn’t on any official agenda, featured no head of state and didn’t even include China. Senior officials from Australia, India, Japan and the U.S. gathered on Thursday in Singapore for only the third time since the revival of their so-called Quad last year. The group’s resurgence – a decade after it was conceived during the Bush administration – reflects growing unease over Xi’s more assertive foreign policy. [A Pacific naval base]( | The U.S. will join Australia in developing the Lombrum Naval Base on Papua New Guinea’s Manus Island, upping the ante in their effort to counter Beijing’s sway in a region comprising more than a dozen small nations strung over thousands of miles. While the Pacific has traditionally been Australia’s diplomatic backyard, China is issuing loans and initiating infrastructure projects in several countries. [Caught in the middle]( | Smaller economies are watching the tensions between China and the U.S. with worry. The week of Asia-based summits has highlighted the task for nations to balance ties between the two powers – some relying on the U.S. for strategic support while reaping the benefits of trade with China. Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong echoed the concerns when he said states like his may one day have to choose a side. [Chaos in Washington]( | While leaders listened closely to Pence, many were waiting to see if Trump would do something to contradict him. Pence “is always going to be undermined by the fact that everyone knows Trump is unpredictable,” said Anthony Nelson, director of the East Asia practice at Albright Stonebridge Group. From thousands of miles away, Pence was also drawn into Beltway politics, including the furor over [the banning]( of CNN reporter Jim Acosta from the White House and a New York Times [report]( raising questions about his own loyalty to the president. Mike Pence next to a traditional mask at the end of meetings today. Photographer: SAEED KHAN/AFP [And finally …Â]( The family photo at the annual Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit on Thursday showed how Trump’s decision to skip the meetings lowered the U.S. profile. Russian President Vladimir Putin – not Trump, like last year – took the prominent spot to the right of host Lee. Pence, meanwhile, stood a few places to the left. Group photo before the plenary session of the ASEAN summit, Nov. 15.    There’s a new way to get the latest business news and analysis from Bloomberg: We’re now on WhatsApp. [Sign up here]( to get on-the-ground updates from reporters, breaking markets news, and more.   You received this message because you are subscribed to the Bloomberg Politics newsletter Balance of Power. You can tell your friends to [sign up here](.  [Unsubscribe]( | [Bloomberg.com]( | [Contact Us]( Bloomberg L.P. 731 Lexington, New York, NY, 10022