Biden On Xi Jinping Reportedly Skipping New Delhi G20 Summit: 'I Hope He Attends'

U.S. President Joe Biden has expressed his hopes for Xi Jinping‘s participation at the forthcoming G20 leaders summit in India, amidst recent reports suggesting at Chinese president’s potential absence.

What Happened: According to analysts, Xi’s potential absence could be due to a reluctance to give neighboring rival, India, the spotlight. Two sources in China confirmed the possibility of Xi’s absence, although the specific reasons remain undisclosed, reported The Guardian.

Biden, during a Washington press briefing reacting to media reports, on Thursday, said, "I hope he attends."

Despite this, U.S. officials have downplayed the chances of a Xi-Biden meeting in New Delhi, hinting at a potential meeting at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) conference in San Francisco in November.

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Tensions between China and India have intensified this week following Beijing’s release of a map claiming disputed territories Arunachal Pradesh and the Doklam Plateau as part of China. Premier Li Qiang is expected to represent China at the G20 meeting in New Delhi, which was previously seen as a potential venue for dialogue between Xi and Biden amid ongoing trade and geopolitical disagreements.

Why It Matters: These developments come against the backdrop of escalating U.S.-China tensions. In May, Biden’s envoy to China, Nicholas Burns, declared the U.S. readiness to talk to Xi, and expressed hopes that Beijing would “meet us halfway on this.”

Reports also indicated that the Biden administration was pushing for a series of meetings and phone calls to make it harder for Beijing to refuse engagement. This strategic move was aimed at easing tensions with China and potentially labeling President Xi as recalcitrant if he declined these overtures.

Biden in June refused to backtrack on his characterization of Xi as a “dictator” during a conference with India’s PM Narendra Modi. This statement was seen as a continuity of a firm stance towards China.

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