Why Xi Jinping skipped the UN after his Trump summit
Han Zheng, China’s vice-president, called on “major countries” to respect the sovereignty and security of Middle Eastern nations and bring about a two-state solution for the “Palestinian question” on Saturday at the UN General Assembly (UNGA) in an implicit dig at the US and Israel. This came as some analysts questioned why Chinese President Xi Jinping opted not to address the global body given…
Chinese Vice-President Han Zheng urged "major countries" to honor the sovereignty and security of Middle Eastern nations, subtly criticizing the United States and Israel regarding the Palestinian issue during the UN General Assembly. This came amid speculation over Chinese President Xi Jinping's decision to skip the UNGA while attending a three-day summit with US President Donald Trump.
Analysts questioned the rationale behind Xi's absence, considering China's longstanding emphasis on the UN's significance and its efforts to enhance global soft power. Despite China's emphasis on multilateralism and its active promotion of global initiatives, Xi has only addressed the UN once personally since 2012, highlighting the contrast with the US's more active participation in multilateral affairs.
China has historically prioritized relations with Washington over multilateral issues, with Beijing touting its recent initiatives aimed at promoting global development, security, and governance. However, some observers argue that China's actions in recent years have been more rhetorical than substantive, failing to match the level of international support and influence wielded by the US.
Written by urgent.news from Reuters Business via SCMP's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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