Washington, Sep 6: It is for China to decide what role it plays at the G20 Summit in New Delhi, a top US official has said, asserting that if Beijing wants to come in and be a “spoiler”, that option is available to it.
US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan was responding to a question at a White House news conference on Tuesday on the impact of India-China border tensions on the G20 Summit.
“As far as the question of tensions between India and China affecting the (G20) summit – really that’s up to China. If China wants to come in and play the role of spoiler, of course, that option is available to them,” he said.
“What I think the Chair, India, will encourage them to do what we, the United States and every other member, virtually every other member of the G20 will do, is encourage them to come in, in a constructive way on climate, on multilateral development, bank reform, on debt relief, on technology and set aside the geopolitical questions and really focus on problem-solving and delivering for the developing countries,” Sullivan said.
Chinese President Xi Jinping will not attend the G20 Summit in New Delhi this week and the delegation will be led by Premier Li Qiang, China’s foreign ministry announced on Monday as it expressed Beijing’s readiness to work with all parties to make the high-profile meeting a success.
China has not given specific reasons behind Xi’s absence at the G20 Summit.
The ties between India and China nosedived significantly following the fierce clash in the Galwan Valley in June 2020 that marked the most serious military conflict between the two sides in decades.
India has made it clear to China that until there is peace and tranquillity in border areas, the relationship between the two countries cannot progress.
India is hosting the annual G20 Summit in New Delhi on September 9 and 10.
At the G-20 Summit, Sullivan said President Joe Biden will be clear that the United States expects real progress. “He will be clear that we need all G20 members to be constructive and at the table, with no exceptions. We’ll also be making progress on other key priorities, from climate to health to digital technology, including commitments, with respect to a more inclusive digital transformation and a responsible path and approach to AI development,” he noted. (PTI)
