Xi Jinping to Miss BRICS Summit — Diplomacy Under Tight Control, Is Xi Losing Power?

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[People News] — The BRICS Summit is scheduled to be held from July 6 to 7 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, the current rotating chair of the organisation. On June 25, Bloomberg and South China Morning Post both cited informed Brazilian government sources revealing that Xi Jinping will not attend the summit, and that Chinese Premier Li Qiang will go in his place. This marks the first time Xi has skipped a BRICS summit, sparking speculation amid widespread rumours that he has been sidelined or is losing power.

Bloomberg reported that the Chinese government has not provided any explanation for Xi’s absence. South China Morning Post compared the situation to Li Qiang’s attendance at the 2023 G20 Summit in India, implying it is not unprecedented.

At a regular press conference of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs on June 25, a reporter asked about the issue. Spokesperson Guo Jiakun did not give a direct answer, saying instead that information would be released at an appropriate time, and advised the press to stay tuned to CCTV. Guo had responded similarly the previous day, June 24, when questioned by a reporter from Brazil’s Folha de S.Paulo. His evasive remarks suggested that there may be sensitive reasons behind Xi’s absence that cannot yet be disclosed publicly.

The BRICS summit involves China, Russia, Brazil, and other countries. Iran and others joined in 2023. The summit covers key international cooperation areas such as energy, economy, and climate, and aims to enhance geopolitical influence. Experts view BRICS as symbolically distancing itself from Western leadership models. This is exactly the type of international forum where Xi Jinping would typically want to appear, given the Chinese Communist Party’s aspiration to play a leading role on the world stage. Especially after recent strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, Xi’s presence would have presented a valuable opportunity to meet Iranian leaders. His absence may therefore weaken his efforts to use BRICS to expand China’s global influence and create an alternative to the U.S.-led world order.

Some reports suggest that Xi’s absence, especially as a founding member of BRICS, downgrades the summit’s status. Brazilian officials reportedly expressed disappointment. One insider noted that Brazilian President Lula visited Beijing in May to demonstrate goodwill, hoping Xi would reciprocate by attending the summit.

According to Bloomberg, one possible reason for Xi’s absence is Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi being invited as the summit’s guest of honour. Xi might feel overshadowed if Modi steals the spotlight, which could displease him. However, Beijing’s official explanation is a “scheduling conflict.”

Commentator Li Linyi doubts this is the real reason, pointing out that Xi has already met with Brazil’s president twice, and summit participation is not just a matter of personal diplomacy—schedules can always be adjusted. If Xi is truly unable to attend, it likely means he is either politically sidelined or physically unwell.

Independent commentator Cai Shenkun recently claimed on social media that, in light of the current international climate and domestic economic issues, combined with Xi’s rumoured health problems, Party elders have lost patience and are collectively pressuring him to step down. Meanwhile, Li Qiang appears to be gaining more opportunities on the diplomatic stage.

According to Chinese state media, on June 23, Li Qiang held a welcoming ceremony for Singapore’s new Prime Minister Lawrence Wong at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, and accompanied Wong during a review of the military honour guard. On June 24, Li met separately with the presidents and prime ministers of Ecuador, Kyrgyzstan, and Vietnam.

Commentator Yue Shan notes that Xi’s diplomatic schedule is likely under control and no longer up to him. Whether he will travel abroad may not be his decision to make. This situation should be monitored in the coming months. △

(Originally published by People’s Report)