As the APEC summit was held, Lima, the capital of Peru, became the focus of global attention. Although leaders from various countries gathered in Lima to promote economic cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region, domestic protests added an uneasy atmosphere to the summit. During the summit, Peruvians launched protests, condemning the government's inaction on crime issues and even burning the flags of China and the United States to express their dissatisfaction with the current international situation and domestic affairs. This move highlights the anger of Peruvians over domestic issues and also reflects the complex position of Latin America in the global game.

Protests and domestic dissatisfaction: a microcosm of social unrest in Latin America

On November 13, the Peruvian government hosted the APEC summit in Lima, and hundreds of Peruvians took to the streets to protest the government's inability to deal with the problem of vicious crime. These protesters tried to extend the march to the meeting place of the summit to attract global attention. Demonstrators held signs to express their anger at the government's breach of trust and burned the flags of the United States and China, demanding that the two countries withdraw from Peru. This behavior is not only dissatisfaction with domestic issues, but also a protest against foreign interference and external influence. In recent years, Peru's public security problems have become increasingly severe, and violent incidents related to organized crime have occurred frequently, exacerbating people's distrust of the government and making the summit a window for people to vent their dissatisfaction.

Although Peruvian President Dina Boluarte promised to improve domestic public security, the results were not significant, which also made people question her promise. As a former vice president, Boluarte took over after the removal of former President Pedro Castillo. Her inauguration once triggered fierce protests from the opposition. The protesters not only accused the government of failing to effectively control crime, but also held up photos of 60 Peruvians who died in protest violence last year, calling for justice. These protests highlight the widespread social dissatisfaction and political instability in Latin America, and also reflect the challenges of regional governance.

Great power game in the APEC summit: the Latin American map of Sino-US confrontation

As the leaders of major economies around the world gathered in Lima, the APEC summit has become not only a stage for economic issues, but also a place for global geopolitical games. The arrival of US President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping is seen as the focus of the summit, where the two will meet to discuss their positions on global affairs. The meeting takes place against the backdrop of the US election just ending and Trump about to take office again, and the world is full of attention to the future of Sino-US relations.

Biden's trip is not only his participation in APEC, but also his last Asia-Pacific diplomatic activity during his term. The outgoing Biden tried to consolidate Sino-US cooperation in areas such as military exchanges and drug control, while expressing concerns about China's rise. However, Biden's maintenance of Sino-US relations has not completely calmed the tensions between the two countries, especially Trump's victory has made the prospects for future relations between the two countries more confusing. During the campaign, Trump declared that he would increase tariffs on Chinese imports. If this policy is implemented, it will have a major impact on Sino-US economic relations.

At the same time, Xi Jinping's visit and his economic layout in Latin America have caused concerns in the United States. In recent years, China has increased its investment in Latin America. During this summit, China will also attend the inauguration ceremony of the large port of Shangkai built by Chinese companies with Peruvian President Boluarte. The construction of the port is seen as an important symbol of China's expansion of influence in Latin America, indicating that China's economic participation in the region is gradually deepening. Latin America was long considered the "backyard" of the United States, but now it has gradually become the frontier of competition between China and the United States.

Diplomatic attitudes of Latin American countries: multiple choices in the struggle between great powers

Latin American countries face complex choices in the global geopolitical game. On the one hand, the United States has long had political and economic influence in Latin America, while on the other hand, China has actively invested in the region with the intention of expanding its economic territory. Although both the United States and China want to win over Latin American countries, Latin American countries are more pragmatic in dealing with the struggle between great powers and focus on their own economic development interests. This APEC summit provides a stage for Latin American countries to demonstrate their economic potential. Peru intends to use topics such as "trade and investment", "innovation and digitalization" and "sustainable growth" as the themes of the summit to attract more foreign investment.

However, not all Latin American countries are satisfied with US policies. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum was absent from the meeting because she did not recognize the legitimacy of the Boluarte government. Mexico's attitude shows the independence of Latin American countries in dealing with internal and external policy issues. In addition, the absence of Russian President Putin also attracted people's attention. The continuation of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict has restricted Russia's diplomatic actions on the international stage, which has further exacerbated the complexity of the global situation.

Latin America's security and economic issues: social challenges behind the APEC summit

Behind the lively atmosphere of the APEC summit, Peru is facing severe security challenges, and the expansion of criminal groups has made the people feel uneasy. During the summit, Lima, the capital of Peru, deployed a total of 13,000 police officers to ensure the safety of the summit. However, the high-intensity security measures did not completely quell the anxiety and dissatisfaction of the people. Peru's security problems are not only a challenge for the government, but also reflect the social security problems that are prevalent in Latin American countries.

In recent years, many Latin American countries have been plagued by violent crimes, drug trafficking and poverty. These problems not only affect the country's political stability, but also hinder economic development. Peru has become a gathering place for global leaders this time, but domestic crime problems and protests remind people that behind the economic cooperation issues in the Asia-Pacific region are still deep-seated social problems in Latin America. Under the pressure of globalization and economic development, how to balance internal stability and external cooperation has become a topic that Latin American countries need to solve urgently.

Competition among Great Powers and Multiple Challenges of Latin American Development

The protests at the APEC summit and the game between great powers highlight the unique status of Latin America. The protests in Peru are not only a manifestation of people's dissatisfaction with the government's security issues, but also a response to the intervention of great powers. As the Sino-US competition becomes increasingly fierce, Latin America has been given a more complex role. The situation of Latin American countries in the competition among great powers is more delicate. They must not only balance the influence of the two major economies, but also be committed to the sustainable development of their own economies.

As the global geopolitical landscape continues to change, the future policy direction of Latin American countries will affect the economic cooperation of the entire Asia-Pacific region. As a member of APEC, Latin American countries need to find their own position in the environment of Sino-US competition while achieving stability and prosperity in the region. In the future, whether Peru and other Latin American countries can play an independent role in the global game and promote economic cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region will be the focus of global attention.