Chinese Think Tank Says India ‘Sabotaged’ G20 by Hosting Sessions in Disputed Territories

A Chinese think tank tied to the country’s leading intelligence agency claimed that India “sabotaged” the G20 summit by hosting sessions in disputed territories, providing possible insight into why Chinese President Xi Jinping skipped the gathering.

Just hours before the leaders assembled Saturday in New Delhi, the China Institute of Contemporary International Relations leveled the accusation on its WeChat social media account, according to Bloomberg News.

India, it claimed, “sabotaged the atmosphere for cooperation at the G-20” by hosting previous events in Arunachal Pradesh and Kashmir, which are respectively claimed by China and Pakistan.

CICIR — which is operated by the Chinese Ministry of State Security — also reportedly accused India of putting its own agenda first at the summit of international leaders, which could “further create divergence and splits, blocking the international community from reaching consensus and substantial achievement.”

To the surprise of some observers, the G20 reached a joint resolution consensus with apparent ease on Saturday, despite having to navigate thorny issues like Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

They did so with Chinese Premier Li Qiang sitting in for Xi, who opted not to attend amid icy relations with India.