Beauty and the beast: China brought its own wheels, a red flag, to Washington
China signaled its growing ambitions for global primacy during President Xi Jinping's state visit to the United States by bringing its own bespoke, heavily armored presidential vehicle, the Hongqi N701. The vehicle, which translates to "Red Flag," is a custom-built, 18-foot limousine equipped with bullet-resistant glass, run-flat tires, secure communications, and protection against contaminated air.
Its arrival was no mere coincidence; China had been increasingly reliant on importing foreign presidential vehicles for its leaders, as seen with India, India's own presidential limousine. Xi's Hongqi N701 traveled with him to countries such as Russia, France, Saudi Arabia, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, South Korea, and India, demonstrating China's growing confidence and the country's ability to self-sufficiently provide transportation for its highest-ranking officials.
This move effectively signaled China's transformation from a nation that once relied on the West for luxury cars to a country that now boasts its own "beauty" of a vehicle to match America's iconic "Beast."
Written by urgent.news from Times of India's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
