Xi’s G20 no-show hints at China’s shifting diplomatic priorities

India’s participation in the so-called Quad, a security alliance with Australia, Japan, and the United States that Beijing sees as an effort to restrain its effect in Asia, also infuriates China.

According to Shi Yinhong, a professor of international relations at Renmin University of China in Beijing, India recently showed” stronger opposition to China’s claims over the South China Sea … and escalated … a ban or strict restrictions on Chinese tech exports and direct investments.”

Whether situational events occur at this or that moment, these( issues ) have existed for years and will persist for a very long time ,” he said.

With his American counterpart declaring last week that he would be” disappointed” if the Chinese president did not appear, there were hopes that President Joe Biden would meet with Xi using the G20.

In recent years, Beijing and Washington have fought over a variety of topics, including industry, engineering, and human rights.

However, Sun said that the” extremely clear” promise of a meeting in November at the APEC summit in San Francisco may have made Xi’s G20 presence” less important.”

DO NOT QUESTION WHY

At a press briefing this week regarding Xi’s presence, questions about the foreign ministry of China were deflected.

When questioned immediately about Xi’s absence, spokesperson Mao Ning replied,” I just made an announcement about this.”

She therefore recited a speech about Premier Li Qiang’s upcoming trip to India without mentioning Xi.

China’s Communist Party often makes public information about its bottom leaders, but in recent months, its reflexive secrecy has garnered numerous headlines.

Qin Gang, a former foreign minister, was suddenly fired from his position in July and hasn’t been seen or heard from from.

Additionally, Xi sent his business secretary to read the speech on his behalf because he was unable to attend the BRICS summit’s scheduled speech.

There was a” reasonable chance ,” according to Tsang of SOAS, that Xi, who turned 70 this year, might be dealing with health issues.

Greater control and greater secrecy are a part of the process because” Xi is taking China further in the totalitarian direction ,” Tsang said.

Additionally, a G20 diplomatist advised AFP Xi to refrain from raising difficult issues regarding Russia’s refusal to denounce it for its invasion of Ukraine.

The prince dislikes being questioned in an uneasy manner, he claimed.