US delegation snubs Apec meeting in Macau due to China visa requirements row

Washington has deliberately withheld high-level participation from the ongoing APEC Tourism Ministerial Meeting in Macau, citing China 'arbitrary and targeted' visa rules for US government officials. This diplomatic snub, announced by the US State Department, highlights growing friction between the two global powers over the ability of American diplomats to provide essential consular services to US citizens in the semi-autonomous region. The core of the dispute revolves around Beijing's requirement for US diplomats, normally based in Hong Kong, to obtain separate official visas for Macau, a process that can take up to seven days and impede emergency assistance to American travelers. The US labels this a 'discriminatory practice' that China has refused to address, despite previous attempts by Washington to find a 'positive way forward' in line with recent efforts by President Donald Trump and President Xi Jinping to stabilize their countries' relationship. This current row follows a 2020 decision by China to revoke visa exemptions for US diplomatic passport holders to Hong Kong and Macau, further exacerbating long-standing tensions. With the APEC Tourism Ministerial Meeting concluding on June 28, 2026, the absence of senior US officials sends a clear message of dissatisfaction, potentially casting a shadow over future engagements. The critical test will come in November when China hosts the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in Shenzhen. How this visa disagreement evolves could heavily influence the attendance and tone of that crucial summit, impacting broader US-China diplomatic relations and regional economic cooperation moving forward.