President Joe Biden appeared in the back row of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit's 'family photo,' while Chinese President Xi Jinping was positioned prominently at the front. The placement of leaders was said to be determined by the alphabetical order of their countries, although some have speculated that Biden's placement reflects the U.S.'s waning influence in the region. This year's summit, held in San Francisco, highlighted China's growing dominance, with Xi receiving a warm reception and signing significant agreements such as a new mega-port project in Peru. Biden's visit to South America, his first as president, seemed overshadowed by China's strategic economic moves and the Belt & Road initiative. As Biden prepares to meet Xi for the last time as president, questions about the future U.S. foreign policy under a new administration remain unaddressed. Despite the optics, U.S. officials maintain that the focus of Biden's discussions remains on building alliances with key partners like Japan and South Korea.