‘Hope he attends’: US’ Joe Biden on Xi Jinping skipping G20 Summit in Delhi

US President Joe Biden on Thursday hoped that his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping would attend the G20 Summit in New Delhi.

Biden, together with greater than two dozen world leaders, is scheduled to attend the G20 Summit in New Delhi subsequent week which is being hosted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Recent media reviews stated that Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping usually are not more likely to attend the summit.

“The answer is I hope he attends the G20 Summit,” Biden advised reporters Thursday when requested if he’s anticipating President Xi to attend the meet.

Meanwhile, Farwa Aamer, Director of South Asia Initiatives on the Asia Society Policy Institute (ASPI), stated that President Xi’s skipping of the G20 Summit in India could possibly be seen as proof that China at this level of time is reluctant to cede the centre stage to India.

“Perhaps the most significant development so far, which some may say was expected, has been President Xi’s decision to skip the upcoming G20 Summit hosted by India. This move carries multifaceted implications.

“Firstly, it may be inferred that China is reluctant to cede the centre stage to India, notably inside the area and the broader neighbourhood. This underscores China’s intention to keep up its dominant position and affect, instantly impacting the fragile steadiness of energy within the area,” Aamer said.

Secondly, President Xi’s absence serves as a reminder that achieving de-escalation at the border will require sustained and intricate diplomatic efforts. The negotiation process will be protracted, intertwined with the broader geopolitical landscape of the Himalayan region and China’s strategic competition with the United States, she said.

The absence of high-profile summits such as the G20 from President Xi’s schedule highlights the intricate layers of negotiations and the imperative of ensuring that domestic audiences are aligned with the diplomatic path forward, she said.

“Looking forward, it’s evident that Sino-India relations are navigating complicated terrain. The border points are deeply intertwined with historic disputes, nationwide satisfaction, and strategic pursuits. As each nations vie for affect on the worldwide stage, their interactions can be influenced by not solely regional dynamics but in addition the overarching framework of nice energy competitors between China and the United States,” Aamer stated.

As for the G20 Summit, the eventual consequence will function a barometer of the extent to which geopolitical tensions and strategic competitors are impacting world financial cooperation and multilateral diplomacy, she stated.

Since the Galwan clashes of 2020, Sino-India relations have been marked by escalating tensions and unresolved border points, she stated, including that regardless of a number of rounds of diplomatic discussions and the current assembly of corps commanders, a transparent and straightforward decision to the border disputes stays elusive.

Prime Minister Modi’s repeated statements that the trajectory of Sino-India relations hinges on the state of affairs alongside the border spotlight the importance of this situation. As it stands, the prospects of a swift settlement appear distant, at the least within the close to future, Aamer stated.

“The bilateral dynamics were enigmatic, with hints of a potential meeting between Prime Minister Modi and President Xi during the BRICS Summit. However, the actual interaction was limited to a brief exchange, reflecting the deep-seated complexities at play,” she stated.

“China’s subsequent release of a new map, asserting its sovereignty over the northeastern state of Arunachal Pradesh and the disputed Aksai Chin plateau, further exacerbated tensions. India’s strong protest, including Foreign Minister S Jaishankar’s labelling of China’s claim as ‘absurd,’ underscored the gravity of the situation. On its part, China employed a familiar strategy, urging all parties to remain objective and avoid over-interpreting the issue,” Aamer stated.

Published On:

Sep 1, 2023