Asia is about to give the world a lesson in helpful artificial harmony. The summit of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, which begins next week in Beijing, will be attended by the leaders of nations in Asia and the Americas, including the United States. It may be fake, a Potemkin village of pretend smiles and empty rhetoric set in an artificially prettified city. But APEC still helps keep global peace.
Imagine that the gloves were really off. On the subject of economics and trade, US President Barack Obama might chastise China over its closed markets and $4 trillion foreign exchange pile. Asia's smaller economies might round on Obama for the damaging effects of US-centric monetary policy. They might also accuse China of craving regional hegemony, typified in the new Shanghai-based "infrastructure bank" many of them have nonetheless agreed to help fund.
Politically, there would be even more discord. China's Xi Jinping and Japan's Shinzo Abe, yet to meet, might exchange choice words about territorial disputes. Obama and Russia's Vladimir Putin have a litany of mutual recriminations, while a full and frank debate on how to deal with Islamic State could easily end in blows.
None of this will happen. The meetings of APEC's twenty-one member economies - Taiwan and Hong Kong are in the group but must never be referred to as "countries" - are showpieces which typically produce only platitudes and euphemism.
Beijing is nonetheless taking the summit seriously. The authorities will try for blue skies in the often smog-choked capital, by diverting traffic, stopping construction and shutting down factories. Halloween outfits are officially discouraged on public transport.
The respect is deserved. APEC matters, despite the vacuity and public problem-dodging. As in any conference, private discussions can defuse tensions and build personal relationships. And the fact that member states care enough about presenting a united front that they turn up is an important statement. Even if the harmony is fake, it reduces the chances that disputes will get out of hand.
