Opinion | The 7 Sins of Xi: Decoding Chinese President’s No-Show at G20 Summit

Global turmoil, ever since the virus leaked from Wuhan, has only become more unprecedented with our world reeling under health duress, economic stress and a more protectionist ethos revolving around it. China has been at the centre of the storm for the Covid pandemic, unfair trade practices, trying to push for expansionist projects, threatening Taiwan, taking up cudgels with India and even sniffing Russia precariously. It has also antagonised the US to the extent that ‘China Plus One’ strategy has become a reality with businesses looking at countries beyond China and the trust deficit is exponentially increasing with many countries in NATO, the EU and countries nearer to us like Sri Lanka, Nepal and others.

While China played its devious cards a bit too early to compete with the US economically and militarily and has been burning bridges across the globe, Bharat on the other hand, has been building bridges through soft diplomacy, hard calls against terrorism and unfair practices and has silently become a ‘Vishwa Guru’, while appealing to Global South, African Union and countries that are Special Invitees to the G20 Summit at New Delhi.

Endeavours of Bharat have curtailed the flow of finance into Pakistan and China had to spend more to support its lapdog through the last few years with no visible gains. The misadventure at Galwan and threats to the sovereignty of Taiwan, Philippines, Malaysia and others have caused geopolitical isolation for China and in an era where war might not be feasible, the reaction from Bharat, militarily during Galwan and thereafter and also sustained infrastructure development and relocation of forces from LoC and mechanised formations in hinterland to LAC has caused much unease to the Dragon.

While most Heads of State will be gracing the G20 Summit, Xi has decided to send Chinese Premier Li Qiang and speculations are abuzz for what could be the reasons other than ‘embarrassing Modi’? Well if it is truly about embarrassment then the absence of Xi actually prevents him from the embarrassment that he envisages. It is a G20 Summit that he misses, at the peril of China, as multilateralism will elude China in years ahead, as Bharat takes on the mantle to lead nearly 4.5 billion of the world through a collective developmental approach; truly enshrined in “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam”.

Xi might not be in Delhi due to many reasons but the ‘seven sins of Xi’ could be encapsulated to be:

1. Reduced clout in global affairs, as China has made more enemies in the last 4 years and has been unable to bring large projects in other countries to fructification. Truly the ‘trust’ is declining.
2. Expects backlash during engagements at the Summit from other countries including the African Union and will not be able to contribute towards consensus, as a leader, to issues where China has been found wanting.
3. The inability to agree to fairer trade norms is a handicap that China is aware of as it has manipulated the WTO and many multilateral organisations in its rise to the current economic stature and Xi doesn’t want to be pointed out directly by a group of other countries.
4. Internal turmoil has grown in China and there is much unrest, even after quelling of it in the last wave of the Covid pandemic and rebuke from within the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has emerged recently.
5. Solidarity with Russia is something Xi has in the equation and while Russian President Vladimir Putin has personally called Prime Minister Modi to explain the reasons, as Russia is being boycotted by the West, Xi lacks the maturity, capability and intent to do so for now.
6. Global South and the African Union are being positively steered by G20 Presidency and inclusion will add to the stature of Bharat as well, as right through this year, Bharat has reached out to seek suggestions for matters to be taken up during G20 events; 200 of which have happened over 60 cities in Bharat over the last year.
7. Recent backlash on maps by others, including Russia and the fear that Xi will be pulled into a bilateral by US President Joe Biden or, a group for multilateral talks on the sideline.

Xi Jinping missing the G20 Summit; one which promises to make many promises for global good, is a sign that he is not inclined and China is not prepared to be a part of the collective endeavours of the world and is selfish in intent for growth.

The G20 Summit in Delhi is a “Moment for Bharat” to lead and heal the world and Xi will not be missed.

Colonel Rohit Dev, a 2nd Generation Army Officer, is an Adjunct Professor at the Rashtriya Raksha University, a Geo-political Analyst and a Primetime TV personality. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18’s views.