WASHINGTON – Chinese language President Xi Jinping is not going to attend President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration, however he’s sending Vice President Han Zheng as his particular consultant.
The choice, introduced Friday in China by the international ministry, got here greater than a month after Trump prolonged the bizarre invitation to Xi, a break from custom since no heads of state have beforehand made an official go to to the U.S. for the inauguration.
“We stand able to work with the brand new U.S. authorities to reinforce dialogue and communication, correctly handle variations, develop mutually helpful cooperation, collectively pursue a steady, wholesome and sustainable China-U.S. relations and discover the proper approach for the 2 international locations to get together with one another,” the ministry’s spokesperson mentioned when asserting the choice.
Different international leaders have spoken about being invited to Trump’s inauguration, together with Argentinian President Javier Milei and Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni. The places of work of Ecuadorean President Daniel Noboa and Paraguayan President Santiago Peña have additionally mentioned they had been invited and had been planning to attend.
Solar Yun, director of the China program on the Washington-based assume tank Stimson Heart, mentioned the transfer by Xi means “China is keen to forego protocol and cater to what Trump needs.”
“It signifies that China is keen to speak, negotiate and make efforts to achieve offers,” Solar wrote.
Danny Russel, vice chairman for worldwide safety and diplomacy on the Asia Society Coverage Institute, mentioned Beijing is hedging by sending Han as an alternative of Xi.
“Zero probability that Xi Jinping would enable himself to be potted plant at Donald Trump’s triumphal coronation. On the identical time, guaranteeing that China extends sufficient courtesy to keep away from bruising Trump’s ego,” Russel wrote. Han’s mission, the previous American diplomat mentioned, is “symbolic, not substantive.”
The dispatch of Han comes because the U.S.-China rivalry is about to accentuate. A number of of Trump’s nominees for key Cupboard positions are recognized China hawks, together with Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida, who’s nominated as secretary of state. Rubio known as China “probably the most potent, harmful and near-peer adversary this nation has ever confronted” throughout his affirmation listening to on Wednesday, when members of the Senate International Relations Committee urged Rubio to make countering China a high precedence.
Beijing prefers leader-level talks, which it believes may assist information the bilateral relations, whereas Trump likes to take care of world leaders immediately.
As president, Xi has traveled overseas for state visits and summits. However he didn’t attend the coronation of King Charles III, nor did he go to the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II or the memorial service for Nelson Mandela. As an alternative, he despatched vice presidents. Han was his particular consultant for King Charles III’s coronation. When Trump invited Xi to the inauguration in December, it was broadly believed that Xi was unlikely to come back.
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Related Press author Adriana Gomez Licon in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., contributed to this report.
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