Chinese President Xi Jinping is unlikely to attend US President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration on January 20. Although Xi received an invitation, two sources told agencies that he is not expected to participate.
However, China’s ambassador to the US and his spouse will attend the event, following standard diplomatic protocol. Additionally, other officials from Beijing may join them. Meanwhile, inauguration officials have assigned staff to handle diplomatic arrangements for foreign dignitaries during the ceremony.
So far, the Chinese embassy in Washington has refused to comment on Xi’s plans. Similarly, Trump’s transition team has not responded to inquiries about the matter, CBS News reported.
Meanwhile, Trump shared his thoughts on US-China relations during a statement on Thursday. He remarked, “We have a good relationship with China. I have a good relationship. We’ve been talking and discussing with President Xi some things.” However, he did not provide further details or address Xi’s possible attendance at the inauguration.
At the same time, the invitation comes amid increasing tensions between the two countries. Recently, US intelligence revealed a large-scale cyberattack on eight American telecom companies. Investigators believe Chinese hackers accessed metadata affecting millions of Americans, including Vice President-elect JD Vance.
Overall, the strained relationship between the US and China underscores the challenges the Trump administration will face in managing diplomatic ties.
