India-China Relations Face New Test Following Xi Jinping's G20 Absence

Chinese President Xi Jinping's choice to not attend the G20 summit has reignited tensions between India and China.

Many in India view Xi's decision as a snub and a significant setback to the already strained relations between the two nuclear-armed Asian nations.

According to Reuters, analysts suggest that Xi's absence further exacerbates existing issues, including a military standoff on their border along the Himalayas and India's firm stance that the relationship cannot progress without a border resolution.

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Despite the tension, Mao Ning, China's foreign ministry spokesperson, stated that relations between China and India "remain stable" and Beijing is ready to cooperate with New Delhi to improve them.

However, a high-ranking member of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) viewed Xi's decision as a sign of Beijing's concerns with India's economic growth, Reuters reports.

The relationship between the two countries plunged after a border clash in the western region of the Himalayas in June 2020 resulted in deaths on both sides. Talks have brought some calm, but a few confrontations persist.

India's closer alignment with the United States and its efforts to prevent Chinese companies from acquiring critical tech and telecom businesses since 2020 have further strained the relationship.

Shi Yinhong, an expert in international affairs at Renmin University in China, highlighted that the primary tensions between China and India stem from their military standoff in the Himalayan region and India's involvement in the Quad alliance, perceived by China as antagonistic.

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This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

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