Chinese President Xi Jinping will not be attending President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration. Instead, he has chosen to send Vice President Han Zheng as his representative. This decision, communicated by the Chinese foreign ministry, marks a notable shift from the traditional precedent of foreign heads of state attending U.S. inaugurations.
Xi’s absence is significant, especially since Trump extended this unusual invitation over a month ago. The spokesperson for China’s foreign ministry expressed a willingness to work with the new administration, emphasizing the importance of dialogue and cooperation within U.S.-China relations. This highlights China’s intention to manage differences and pursue a stable relationship moving forward.
Other world leaders, including Argentinian President Javier Milei and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, have confirmed their attendance at Trump’s inauguration. Officials from Ecuador and Paraguay have also expressed plans to be present.
Some analysts view Xi’s decision as a sign that China is keen to engage while still prioritizing its own diplomatic protocols. Sun Yun, a director at the Stimson Center, pointed out that sending Vice President Han instead of Xi shows that China is willing to bend a bit for Trump’s benefit while trying to maintain a level of respect.
On the other hand, some experts, like Danny Russel from the Asia Society Policy Institute, argue that Xi would never allow himself to be overshadowed at such a significant event. By sending Han, Xi maintains a level of courtesy towards Trump without fully submitting to the traditional protocol.
As tensions between the U.S. and China look set to rise under Trump’s administration—especially with appointments like Marco Rubio as secretary of state—the dynamics of U.S.-China relations may need careful navigation. Trump favors direct interactions with world leaders, while Xi prefers meetings at the top level to establish guiding principles for bilateral relations.
Throughout his presidency, Xi has often chosen to send vice presidents to significant events rather than attending himself, as seen when he sent Han for other recent formal gatherings. Thus, it was generally expected that he would skip the inauguration, cementing a focus on ensuring China remains involved yet strategically reserved.
