G20 Summit: Chinese President Xi Jinping May Skip Event, Analysts Suggest Reluctance to Give India the Spotlight
Speculations are swirling about the possible absence of Chinese President Xi Jinping from the upcoming G20 leaders summit in India, with analysts suggesting that he may be reluctant to give India, a neighboring rival, the spotlight. US President Joe Biden expressed his hope that Xi would attend the summit, but some officials have downplayed the chances of a meeting between Xi and Biden in New Delhi, hinting that it might happen at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) conference in San Francisco in November.
The potential absence of Xi was first reported by Reuters, citing anonymous sources in China. Analysts quoted by Reuters stated that Xi’s decision to skip the meeting could be linked to the rivalry with India. They believe that China may be unwilling to confer influence on its southern neighbor, especially when India’s economy is growing rapidly while China’s growth is slowing down.
Tensions between the two countries have escalated recently after Beijing released a map that includes disputed territories claimed by India. India lodged a formal objection to China’s map, and Beijing urged India to remain calm and refrain from over-interpreting the situation.
Xi has attended all previous in-person G20 summits since becoming president, except for the 2021 summit, which was held virtually due to the Covid-19 pandemic. It is expected that Premier Li Qiang will represent Beijing at the G20 meeting in New Delhi. Li is also likely to attend a summit of East and Southeast Asian leaders in Jakarta, Indonesia.
The G20 summit in India was seen as an important opportunity for a meeting between Xi and Biden, as both countries seek to stabilize their strained relations. However, Russian President Vladimir Putin has already announced that he will not be attending the event and will send Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov instead.
The G20 summit holds great significance for India, as the country aims to showcase its success in lunar landing and position itself as a rising power with attractive markets and a source for global supply chain diversification. However, the troubled relationship with China, highlighted by a deadly clash between their soldiers in 2020, continues to cast a shadow over the event.
Farwa Aamer, Director of South Asia Initiatives at the Asia Society Policy Institute, believes that Xi’s potential absence could be interpreted as China’s reluctance to let India take the center stage. Aamer suggests that China does not want India to become the voice of the Global South or act as a host for a successful G20 summit.
The anticipation of a meeting between Xi and Biden had been fueled by recent visits of top US officials to Beijing, including Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo. However, Xi has made few overseas trips since China eased its strict pandemic-induced border controls earlier this year.
As the G20 ministerial meetings in India continue leading up to the summit, tensions have also arisen with Russia and China opposing joint statements that condemn Russia’s invasion of Ukraine last year.
The absence of Xi Jinping from the G20 summit would be a blow to India’s expectations and could potentially further strain the already complicated relationship between the two Asian giants.
[With Reuters]