The United States refrained from sending senior officials to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) tourism ministerial meeting held in Macau, citing China’s limitations on American diplomats’ ability to offer emergency consular assistance. Washington opted not to dispatch “high‑level participants” to the gathering, which took place from Wednesday through Sunday in the Macau Special Administrative Region of China, according to a US State Department communiqué issued on Wednesday. The United States has repeatedly urged China to rescind the “arbitrary and targeted” visa conditions imposed on US officials traveling to Macau to deliver consular aid to American citizens, the statement noted.
Upon China’s decision to host the tourism‑focused Apec meeting in Macau, Washington again requested Beijing to address its concerns and offered “a constructive path forward,” yet China “rejected” the overture and “maintained its discriminatory practice,” the statement indicated.
The communiqué did not specify whether any lower‑level US delegates would attend the Macau session. The Chinese embassy in Washington did not promptly respond to a request for comment.
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The United States does not maintain a consular facility in Macau; consular services for American citizens are provided through the US Consulate General in Hong Kong.
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