US-China Tensions Likely To Persist As Chinese President Xi May Skip G20 Summit — Biden Says 'Disappointed'

The potential absence of Chinese President Xi Jinping at the forthcoming G20 summit has drawn disappointment from President Joe Biden, as reported by The Hill on Sunday.

What Happened: Biden, during a press conference in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, revealed his disappointment over Xi’s likely absence at the summit. “I am disappointed, but I am going to see him,” he said, without providing any further details on a potential meeting.

The G20 summit, scheduled in India, was anticipated to be an opportunity for the U.S. and China to ease their ongoing tensions. The two leaders previously met in person during last year’s G20 summit in Indonesia.

White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan confirmed Biden’s visit to India from Sept. 7-10 for the summit. He will participate in several bilateral meetings with other world leaders during the summit.

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Why It Matters: Despite recent visits to China by multiple US leaders, including Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, tensions persist over various issues such as technology, espionage, economic competition, military power, and incidents in the South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait.

As Benzinga reported previously, Biden has been making strategic moves to counter China’s influence in Asia. His plan to visit Vietnam was part of these efforts.

There have been constant attempts to ease the US-China tensions. Yellen’s visit to China was seen as a step towards stability. However, Xi’s likely absence at the G20 summit could be due to a reluctance to give neighboring rival, India, the spotlight, as suggested by analysts.

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