Xi Away ? : G-20 Meet Absence Intends To Spoil India’s Big Day ?

The question simply asks what keeps Xi away from G20 meet? Is it only about spoiling India’s big coming out moment on a global arena?

So far Xi has been desirous of building up BRICS as a counter narrative following his victory in expanding membership facing huge opposition. This was widely considered as a grand success for the Chinese President.

Here another moment appears when Prime Minister Narendra Modi two weeks ago held out his hand as he met Xi Jinping on the world stage on the world stage along with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on August 24.

Rumors say, now even before the G20 summit gets underway there is a huge question mark hanging over it. What on earth compels Chinese President to stay away from the global gala?

Xi seems to be playing a long-range game aiming to downplay the US-dominated G20 significance.  Thus he intends to build up BRICS in its place. Or may be by staying away he plans to firmly squelch Indian ambitions of utilizing the G20 to strengthen its position on the world stage.  He thinks this way India will not be able to lay its claim as the Global South leader.

London’s Financial Times finds the reason of Xi’s no show as an effort to cut the G20 to size. “It shakes the stature of the G-20 as the pre-eminent global platform,” opines the financial daily. The FT further adds: “This is going to be the 1st time when Xi Jinping or any other president of China has deliberately missed a G20 summit.”

This is what many of the Western diplomats agree with. Same is the notion of most of the retired Indian mandarins who don’t want to be quoted.

Official Indian analysts’ stand is surprisingly shows a different opinion at least. Their argument argues that Jinping looks more focused on India. He desires to make sure India is kept in its place by getting prevented from making any effort for establishing a claim to be the Global South leader.

Does this Chinese sadism have something to do with bilateral friction over the disputed border between the two countries? Is this the reason China wishes to mess up India’s showcase event ?

The bigger and more crucial fact is that Xi desires to build up the BRICS, as a counter narrative to the G20. This is conceded that the previous session of the BRICS was a signature triumph for Jinping. Expanding the membership of BRICS against the will of opposition, is a huge success for Chinese Premiere. India can never be expected to be excited over the developments.

This might as well be the formal beginning of a new Cold War with India and China lining up against each other. Now in place of the Warsaw and NATO Pacts, there are going to be seen the G20 and BRICS. On one hand these are not going to be military alliances, these are not also exclusive alliances.

India can never be a firm member of a China-led alliance. Brazil and South Africa are also among many who will also be in the same position, straddling both sides.

Nevertheless, the significance of the thread remains unchanged. The G20 will be dominated by the West. And the BRICS by China. One more thing, if Jinping would really want to meet US President Joe Biden, he for sure is not going to meet him in India.

While Premier Li Qiang is being sent by China at the G20, they also know that this is happening for the first time when a Chinese president is skipping G20.