China’s President Xi Jinping did not deliver an announced speech at this year’s Brics summit, but sent a minister. Xi’s interim absence has fueled much speculation.
China’s President Xi Jinping did not appear at the Brics summit in South Africa for a public appointment. This is reported by several international media and the DPA. The ruler was supposed to give a speech at a forum, but unexpectedly sent China’s Commerce Minister Wang Wentao to address the participants. After the event, Xi attended a heads of state dinner.
According to experts, Xi’s absence is very unusual. Especially since the President has already arrived in Johannesburg and the Brics States are one of the most important alliances for the People’s Republic. A grantee from the China Power Project, a research project by the American think tank CSIS, told the US news channel CNN: “It seems that something kept Xi away from the meeting. It could have been a health incident or maybe an urgent matter that required his attention.” He also thinks it is possible that the Chinese President did not agree with developments at the summit.
“To say, that [Xis Abwesenheit] Extraordinary would be an understatement, as Chinese heads of state never miss highly choreographed events like this,” the China Global South Project told the British Guardian. It is the second event by the Brics countries in just a few months Senior Chinese politicians Former Foreign Minister Qin Gang, who has not been seen in public for several months, missed the latest Brics foreign ministers meeting.
China does not address Xi’s absence
The Chinese government appears to be trying to cover up Xi’s absence. In a tweet, Hua Chunying, a spokeswoman for China’s Foreign Ministry, writes: President Xi Jinping delivered a speech at the closing ceremony of the #BRICS Business Forum 2023. President Xi said the changes in the world, in our time and in history are happening in one Wise as never before and bringing human society to a critical juncture.” She also shared a photo of the full meeting room where the speech was to take place.
Long-time observers of the People’s Republic assume that there will be no explanation for the absence of the President in the future either. In China, everything can be made into a state secret, the managing director of the “German Marstall Fund” told the broadcaster “CNN”. But that will not calm the situation down. “The last-minute decision to skip the economic forum seems even stranger, so with the lack of information from the People’s Republic of China, the rumors will continue,” said Bill Bishop, author of a newsletter on China affairs, The Guardian.
The Brics States are an alliance of states consisting of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. All heads of state attended this year’s summit in South Africa, only Russia’s President Putin was connected digitally. An arrest warrant has been issued against him by the International Criminal Court, which means he could be arrested on South African soil.
Sources: , , “”. DPA
Source: Stern
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
