This video portrait from the APEC Economic Leader's Meeting

From this Aussie news site: No 'shirtfront': Tony Abbott talks to Vladimir Putin at APEC

I’m interested in the video and the placement of various leaders in the group shot, towards the end of the video. I don’t recognize most of them. You have the Chinese president and his wife in front center. Putin is right next to Xi Jinping. Obama is three leaders away on one side, Merkel four leaders away on the other side, both in the front row of course. Behind the Chinese president are the Canadian and Australian leaders.

What do the tea leaves have to say about the placement? Why is Tony Abbot in the back row? Australia is usually included in Asia as far as world news goes, and I thought they had important trade ties around Asia.

How does Australia get along with the rest of Asia, and how prominent a position do they hold around Asia, politically, economically, and militarily.

They look like they are at a Star Trek convention.

With Putin as Jean Luc Picard.

I was more expecting them to start a choir concert.

I’ve seen some far right websites claiming that this shows Obama being placed with the wives, and Putin being placed in a position of honor. I don’t know enough to have an informed opinion.

This thread dropped like an anchor, but here it is!

Me either, but it’s interesting. People do put thought into these things. It’s not just tabloids and conspiracy theorists. I’m sure there’s a small army of protocol officers putting lots of thoughts into little things. I’m curious why everyone was wearing “traditional Chinese garb” anyway. I also noticed everyone’s tunic buttoned up the middle, but Obama’s seemed to be half business suit and half tunic. And there is the colors. Some in maroon, some in blue. That was probably random, but who knows?

I’m still curious why Australia was in the back row.