G20 Presidency Battle: China Challenges Planned US Presidency in 2026
Introduction
The G20, made up of major economies across the world, has become a battleground for geopolitical tensions. In a surprising turn of events, China has challenged the planned US presidency of the G20 in 2026. This move highlights the deep sense of distrust between Beijing and Washington and has added fuel to the already existing tensions between the two superpowers. The dispute over who will host the G20 in 2026 has not only caused friction between China and the United States but has also affected discussions on crucial global issues such as Russia’s war against Ukraine and efforts to combat climate change.
Chinese Opposition to US Presidency
During this week’s G20 summit in New Delhi, Chinese officials used diplomatic meetings as an opportunity to express their opposition to the idea of the United States assuming the rotating presidency in 2026. However, their attempt ultimately failed. While the assignment of the G20 rotating presidency is usually a relatively uncontroversial process, China’s objections have created a new rift between the two nations. Chinese diplomats even requested the removal of any reference to the planned US presidency in the summit’s declaration but faced opposition from Western countries, including the United Kingdom.
This year’s G20 summit declaration eventually mentioned the planned US presidency in 2026: “We look forward to meeting again in Brazil in 2024 and South Africa in 2025, as well as in the United States in 2026 at the start of the next cycle.” This inclusion was seen as a victory for the United States and a reflection of the acceptance by all G20 members.
Surprise and Divisions
The Chinese position on opposing the US presidency surprised diplomats from other delegations at the G20 summit. The move exposed the myriad divisions between China and the United States, as China’s arguments were not directly related to G20 issues. The deep-rooted tensions between the two superpowers have spilled over into various international forums, and the G20 has become another battleground for their geopolitical struggles.
The G20 Presidency and China’s Role
The G20, which does not have a permanent secretariat, follows a loose schedule for assigning the rotating presidency. After Brazil takes over the presidency next year, South Africa will follow in 2025. This means that each member state will have hosted a summit by 2025, marking the end of a cycle. The United States presenting its 2026 presidency as a sign of commitment to the group comes at a crucial time when global politics are overshadowed by geopolitical divisions, particularly Russia’s war against Ukraine.
China’s Overall Approach
China has reiterated its positive approach toward the G20, emphasizing the forum’s importance for international economic cooperation. While China’s objections on issues like Ukraine and climate change may have caused delays in joint G20 statements, Beijing asserts its readiness to cooperate with other parties based on the principle of “seeking consensus.”
The G20 and China-US Relations
The G20 presidency battle is just one example of how China-US relations have become increasingly strained. The Chinese intelligence agency recently attacked the United States’ diplomatic overtures toward Beijing, noting that a possible meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Joe Biden in November in San Francisco could be compromised if Washington does not demonstrate more sincerity. This highlights the delicate nature of the relationship and the constant power struggle between two global superpowers.
Conclusion
The G20 has become a major stage for geopolitical tensions, and the battle over the planned US presidency in 2026 exemplifies the deep-seated mistrust between China and the United States. While the assigning of the G20 presidency is typically uncontroversial, China’s objections have sparked divisions and added to the already existing friction between the two superpowers. The G20’s role in fostering international economic cooperation remains crucial, but its effectiveness may be compromised by geopolitical rivalries and power struggles between major global players.
Summary
The planned US presidency of the G20 in 2026 has been challenged by China, causing further tensions between the two superpowers. Chinese officials expressed their opposition during diplomatic meetings at the G20 summit in New Delhi. Despite China’s objections, the mention of the planned US presidency in 2026 was included in the summit’s final declaration. This surprise move and the subsequent divisions exposed the deep-rooted mistrust between China and the United States. The G20, as an important forum for international economic cooperation, has become another battleground for geopolitical struggles. China maintains a positive approach towards the G20 but has raised objections on issues such as Ukraine and climate change. These tensions reflect the delicate nature of China-US relations and the constant power struggle between the two global superpowers.
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China has challenged the planned US presidency of the G20 in 2026, according to officials briefed on the discussions, in a move that underscores the deep sense of distrust between Beijing and Washington.
Chinese officials used diplomatic meetings at the G20 summit in New Delhi this week to express opposition to the idea of the United States assuming the rotating presidency of the group of major economies, four officials said. The attempt ultimately failed.
The dispute over who will host the G20 in 2026 has stoked Sino-U.S. tensions over many issues discussed at the annual gathering of world leaders, including Russia’s war against Ukraine and efforts to combat climate change.
Assigning the G20 rotating presidency, a role that involves setting the agenda for the group’s discussions that year, chairing ministerial meetings and hosting the leaders’ summit, is generally a relatively uncontroversial process. which follows a loose schedule.
But Chinese diplomats requested that this year’s G20 summit declaration remove any reference to the planned U.S. presidency in 2026, according to two people briefed on private discussions during the drafting process. Western countries, including the United Kingdom, opposed the Chinese decision and the phrase was included in the final version adopted by the leaders.
“We look forward to meeting again in Brazil in 2024 and South Africa in 2025, as well as in the United States in 2026 at the start of the next cycle,” the joint statement said.
A spokesperson for China was not immediately available to comment on whether it opposed the U.S. presidency of the G20.
Jake Sullivan, the US national security adviser, told reporters on Saturday: “On the issue of China, all I can say, the statement is made, the reference to the United States as host of 2026 is part of it , and China agreed. All the members of the G20 accepted this and we are satisfied with it.
Officials told the Financial Times that China’s position surprised diplomats from other delegations and exposed the myriad divisions between the two superpowers. China’s arguments against the United States “were not G20 issues,” one of the officials said on condition of anonymity.
The G20 does not have a permanent secretariat. Brazil will take over the presidency next year and South Africa will follow in 2025. After that, each of the member states will have hosted a summit, meaning a new cycle will begin. The first G20 was held in Washington in 2008.
The United States has presented its 2026 presidency as a sign of its commitment to the group, which is shaken by geopolitical divisions created by Russia’s war against Ukraine.
“We ourselves look forward to hosting the G20 in 2026. And even without Russia’s active participation and the tensions created by the war, I still consider the G20 to be very effective,” said Janet Yellen, the US secretary. at the Treasury, New Delhi. Friday.
Chinese President Xi Jinping I didn’t go to India this weekend, this is the first time he or a Chinese leader has skipped a G20 summit. But Beijing insisted it generally took a positive approach toward the group.
Asked on Friday whether China’s objections on issues such as Ukraine and climate change were delaying a joint G20 statement, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Beijing was ready to cooperate with other parties according to the principle of “seeking consensus”.
“The G20 is the premier forum for international economic cooperation. China attaches great importance to and actively participates in the activities of the G20,” the spokesperson said.
This week, the Chinese spy agency attacked recent diplomatic overtures of the United States towards Beijing as mixing engagement and containment, suggesting that a possible meeting between Xi and Biden in November in San Francisco will be compromised if Washington does not demonstrate more “sincerity”.
Additional reporting by Joe Leahy in Beijing
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