WASHINGTON — Chinese President Xi Jinping is set to miss President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration. Instead, he will send Vice President Han Zheng as his special envoy.
This decision was revealed by China’s foreign ministry on Friday and follows an invitation extended by Trump over a month ago, marking a departure from established customs, as no foreign leaders have previously attended a U.S. presidential inauguration in an official capacity.
The spokesperson for the ministry expressed China’s openness to collaborate with the new U.S. administration, aiming to improve dialogue and communication, manage disagreements appropriately, and enhance cooperative efforts that benefit both nations. The goal is to cultivate stable and sustainable relations between China and the United States.
Other global leaders, such as Argentine President Javier Milei and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, have also mentioned their plans to attend the inauguration. Ecuadorean President Daniel Noboa and Paraguayan President Santiago Peña have confirmed their invitations and intentions to be present.
Sun Yun, who directs the China program at the Stimson Center in Washington, interpreted Xi’s decision as a sign of China’s willingness to adjust protocols to match Trump’s preferences. She noted that this reflects China’s readiness to engage in discussions and negotiations to reach agreements.
In contrast, Danny Russel, who serves as vice president for international security and diplomacy at the Asia Society Policy Institute, critiqued the choice of Han as a way for Beijing to hedge its position. Russel emphasized that it was unlikely Xi would want to appear as merely a passive participant during Trump’s inauguration while still being courteous enough not to offend Trump’s sensibilities. He labeled Han’s mission as more symbolic than substantive, suggesting it is primarily a gesture rather than a sign of deep engagement.
The appointment of Han comes amid a backdrop of increasing U.S.-China tensions, particularly as several of Trump’s Cabinet nominees, such as Senator Marco Rubio for Secretary of State, have adopted a hardline stance on China. Rubio previously described China as a significant and dangerous adversary, a point emphasized during his confirmation hearings when the Senate Foreign Relations Committee urged him to prioritize countering China.
China traditionally prefers discussions at the leadership level, believing this approach will facilitate better management of bilateral relations, while Trump is known for preferring direct engagement with heads of state.
Historically, Xi has made state visits abroad; however, he notably did not attend the coronation of King Charles III or the funerals of Queen Elizabeth II and Nelson Mandela, delegating vice presidents to represent China instead. Han had previously served as Xi’s special representative during the coronation of King Charles III. When Trump originally invited Xi for the inauguration last December, many observers speculated that Xi would likely decline the invitation.
