A prominent US official has said that it’s for China to decide about what kind of role it wants to play at the G20 summit being held during this weekend in India. Doubts have been raised about China’s intention since it’s been confirmed that President Xi Jinping won’t be attending the G20 meet in Delhi. Instead, the Chinese delegation will be led by Premier Li Qiang, China’s foreign ministry announced on Monday as it expressed Beijing’s readiness to work with all parties to make the high-profile meeting a success.
“As far as the question of tensions between India and China affecting the (G20) summit – really that’s up to China. If China wants to come in and play the role of a spoiler, of course, that option is available to them,” US national security advisor Jake Sullivan said. Sullivan was responding to a question at a White House news conference on Tuesday on the impact of India-China border tensions on the G20 Summit.
The G20 Summit, hosted by India, is scheduled for September 9 and 10 in New Delhi.
Meanwhile, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said that there is nothing unusual about Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin skipping the G20 event in India. There have abstentions by leaders at such events in the past too.
“I do not think it has anything to do with India. I think whatever decision they make, they would know best,” Jaishankar told news agency ANI.
Sullivan also shared that President Joe Biden will emphasize the need for genuine progress during the G20 Summit. He stressed the importance of having all G20 members participate constructively and made note of key priorities such as climate action, healthcare, digital technology, and the Partnership for Global Infrastructure Investment (PGI).
Additionally, Sullivan highlighted the ongoing focus on how the G20 addresses Russia’s illegal actions in Ukraine, underscoring the severe social and economic consequences and the United States’ commitment to supporting Ukraine.
Sullivan concluded by emphasizing the United States’ commitment to the G20 as an essential platform for addressing global challenges, particularly in a time of significant international economic challenges. He also noted that the United States is looking forward to hosting the G20 in 2026.
Meanwhile, a notable American expert, Daniel Russel, expressed that China’s decision to skip the G20 Summit in New Delhi indicates the strained state of India-China relations. He pointed out that President Xi Jinping’s absence at the summit is significant, especially when considering his recent in-person attendance at a BRICS summit in South Africa.
Russel highlighted that although Premier Li is substituting for President Xi, Li may not possess the same decision-making authority on economic matters as previous Chinese prime ministers. He suggested that Xi Jinping’s decision could be related to pressuring the United States into making concessions, such as easing export restrictions on advanced technology.
Russel also noted that the absence of both President Putin and President Xi provides an opportunity for President Biden to shape the summit’s agenda, particularly in areas such as Russia, clean energy transition, and addressing the debt challenges faced by developing nations, much of which is owed to China.
(With inputs from agencies)
