American President Joe Biden 'disappointed' over Xi-Jinping not attending the G-20 summit

“I am disappointed, but I am going to get to see him", said the United States President, Joe Biden, talking about reports that indicate Chinese President Xi Jinping may not be attending the G-20 Summit slated to take place in New Delhi between September 9 and 10. Biden 'hopes' that his Chinese counterpart graces the leaders' summit.

The contention point is Taiwan, both the USA and China have disagreements centering on the same. A slew of diplomatic moves previously undertaken by both countries have irked the other. From lawmakers from the US visiting Taiwan and the Taiwanese President's trip to the US, to Biden's export ban on semiconductor technology to speculatory reports about Chinese surveillance from Cuba, and lastly, the Chinese spy balloon that flew past the US. The US had hoped to extend an olive branch at the G20 meet in New Delhi, and relax the existing tensions between the two power blocs.

In an attempt to straighten out the rough edges, a number of US officials have visited China in the recent past. High-level US officials such as Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, climate envoy John Kerry, and Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, fulfilled their diplomatic duties aimed towards the betterment of existing bilateral ties.

Li Qiang will be attending the New Delhi chapter of the G20 summit on behalf of Chinese President Xi Jinping. The reason for Xi's absence is not known. However, it is important to note that this comes at a time when tensions are soaring between both India and China over the LAC and the previously published "standard map" by China that included parts of India's Arunachal Pradesh and the whole of Aksai Chin.

The last time Joe Biden and Xi-Jinping met was during the G-20 summit in Baki, Indonesia. However, the relationship between the two nations only derailed since then with the Chinese spy balloon crossing the US. If speculations are to be true, and Chinese President Xi Jinping does not attend the G-20 summit in New Delhi, the American President may have an opportunity to meet him in November this year, at the US APEC Conference slated to take place in San Francisco.