Xi Jinping’s troubled week abroad marred by a string of blunders and minor conflicts.
Chinese General Secretary Xi Jinping’s Trip Abroad Sparks Dispute Over Meeting Request
Chinese General Secretary Xi Jinping recently embarked on a rare trip abroad, engaging in an important discussion with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. However, the high-profile encounter quickly turned into a dispute over which side initiated the meeting.
“President Xi Jinping talked with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit at the latter’s request on August 23, 2023,” the Chinese Foreign Ministry said in a summary of the meeting.
Indian officials were quick to contradict this claim, stating that there was a pending request from the Chinese side for a bilateral meeting. They clarified that Modi only granted an informal conversation with his communist counterpart.
Analysts suggest that China is attempting to downplay differences with various actors, including the United States, India, Japan, and Europe. They are striving to save face and demonstrate that it is not China seeking to cool tensions, but rather everyone else.
A Week of Diplomatic Missteps
This controversy marked the end of a peculiar week of high-level diplomacy for Xi, who made only his second trip abroad this year to attend the BRICS summit in South Africa. While China and Russia view the expanding bloc as a potential challenge to the international order led by the United States, the week was marred by a series of public missteps by Xi’s regime.
One notable misstep was Xi’s last-minute decision to skip his scheduled speech. The reason behind this remains unclear, as the communist system’s opacity prevents any definitive answers. Xi’s absence from the opening session has fueled speculation about his health, although nothing has been confirmed.
Furthermore, during the summit, an aide accompanying Xi was manhandled by event security, causing confusion and embarrassment for the Chinese leader.
Challenges for China’s Foreign Ministry
Experts suggest that these incidents may be indicative of challenges within China’s Foreign Ministry. The absence of a dedicated foreign minister, following the unexplained replacement of Qin Gang, has placed greater responsibilities on former Foreign Minister Wang Yi. This shift in leadership may be contributing to errors in protocol and diplomatic missteps.
Despite these setbacks, Xi managed to preside over an agreement to invite Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, key U.S. allies in the Middle East, to join the BRICS bloc. He also engaged in important discussions, including the China-Africa Leaders’ Dialogue and a conversation with Modi, highlighting the significance of managing the relationship with India.
In conclusion, while Xi’s trip faced several challenges and embarrassments, experts believe that it can still be considered a success if he can overcome these petty setbacks. As a nationalist leader, it is crucial for Xi to be perceived as strong and in control, rather than being seen as weak or easily influenced.
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