This is CBSI on the world. I'm John Batchel. Peru, the People's Republic of China. I welcome Gordon Chang at Gordon G. Chang, my colleague and co-host and friend, to help interpret events of these last days at the APEC meeting that took place in Lima, Peru, the capital,

and the significance going forward, given China's ambition, despite its brittle economy, to dominate trade

in the Americas, chiefly the South America part. We welcome Jonathan Ward, a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute, to help us interpret,

one, a picture, and two, a picture.

First picture, the APEC meeting, when the participants line up for a group photo, front and

center next to the former vice president,

now president of Peru, President Duarte,

is Xi Jinping smiling and at the camera.

Way up in the back rafters on stage left is Mr. Biden.

Ah, second photograph, a picture of the Newport, On stage left is Mr. Biden. Odd.

Second photograph, a picture of the Newport built by the Chinese-dominated company Costco.

For exclusive use of Costco and we can presume it's a deepwater port on the Pacific in the Americas. It has dual uses in the

event of conflict. Gordon, have I said all that correctly. Good day to you, Gordon. Good day, John.

And yes, you have. The Chankei port can actually redirect trade flows not only across the

Southern Pacific, but also through South America and

Central America. So this is an important development, and the United States really doesn't have

an answer at this point. Jonathan, a good day to you. First question, the photograph. Is it an

accident that she is front and center and Mr. Biden's in the back rafters?

Good evening, John. Good evening, Gordon. No, it's not an accident. I mean, that was a very deliberate

setup, and I think no one at the State Department should have accepted that kind of photo.

I mean, clearly the position of the foreign leaders for APEC was that Xi Jinping is front and center in Latin America.

And Biden's being pushed out all the way at the top.

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