The Xiaomi 15 Extremely. (courtesy of Xiaomi)
One of many memorable moments from Chinese language President Xi Jinping’s assembly with South Korea’s President Lee Jae Myung on Saturday was when the 2 leaders ribbed each other when Xi introduced the Korean president with a Chinese language smartphone.
Inspecting the Xiaomi telephone gifted to him by Xi, Lee requested if the telephone’s “telecommunications safety was strong” whereas laughing. Xi responded, “Examine to see if there is a again door.”
One of many Chinese language staffers accompanying Xi mentioned, “It’s the newest Xiaomi smartphone, a mannequin produced final yr. The smartphone’s show is made by Korea’s LG.”
Whereas this may occasionally seem as an peculiar trade of jokes between heads of state, observers are saying that Xi’s alternative of a Xiaomi smartphone that makes use of Korean elements signifies sure intentions.
Xi didn’t select a telephone from Huawei, China’s largest telecommunications and know-how agency; as an alternative, he selected a smartphone from Xiaomi to offer to Lee.
The conference of providing the very best caliber of presents dictates that Xi ought to have supplied a Huawei smartphone as an alternative of a Xiaomi one. However Xi did not observe conference. Huawei is underneath US sanctions, and the agency would not have a great picture amongst Korean shoppers. Xiaomi, nevertheless, just isn’t presently topic to sanctions, and it’s a Chinese language model that’s much less controversial in Korea.
Xi might have chosen a Xiaomi telephone out of consideration for South Korea’s place of being caught between the US and China as the 2 superpowers jockey for hegemony and technological superiority.
Chinese language President Xi Jinping (left) and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung share fun whereas they current the presents that every chief ready for the opposite forward of a banquet on the Sono Calm lodge in Gyeongju on Nov. 1, 2025. (courtesy of the presidential workplace)
The message despatched by presenting a smartphone that comprises LG elements could also be much more sophisticated. Xi selected a Xiaomi 15 Extremely, the predecessor to the newest Xiaomi 17 premium mannequin. Xi appears to have opted for the marginally older mannequin as a result of it makes use of LG’s show know-how.
On April 12, 2023, Xi shocked many individuals by visiting the LG Show manufacturing unit in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province. It is extraordinarily uncommon for Xi to go to a foreign-operated manufacturing unit in China, and this was his first go to to a manufacturing unit operated by a Korean agency.
South Korea’s relations with China weren’t favorable on the time, so many individuals seen the go to as expressive of Xi’s need to cooperate economically with South Korea.
Per week later, nevertheless, President Yoon Suk-yeol mentioned that Korea “completely oppose[s]” any try to alter the established order on the Taiwan Strait forward of his state go to to the US. The temper on the Chinese language entrance soured.
The spokesman for China’s Overseas Ministry criticized the remarks by declaring that the Chinese language “don’t should be advised what ought to or shouldn’t be finished” — a response that the South Korean Overseas Ministry then referred to as a “breach of diplomatic etiquette” and summoned the Chinese language ambassador to relay an official protest.
As South Korea continued to reply forcefully to China’s high-pressure techniques, Xi’s go to to the LG Show manufacturing unit was rapidly forgotten.
Xi’s alternative of an older Xiaomi smartphone that makes use of LG elements as his present to Lee could also be interpreted as an try to harken again to that go to in 2023 with a purpose to categorical a need to revive amicable relations with Korea and strengthen financial cooperation.
Throughout their summit, Lee and Xi opted to every overtly deal with the assorted ache factors in Korea-China relations whereas agreeing to work on what they might for starters.
Although Xi didn’t provide any clear place in response to Lee’s repeated emphasis on the function that China ought to play in resolving points on the Korean Peninsula, it’s additionally notable that neither aspect’s readout of the summit included any point out of the sensitive Taiwan concern. China’s readout of the talks referred to the problem solely in roundabout phrases, saying that the 2 sides agreed to “accommodate one another’s core pursuits.”
As a substitute, the 2 sides agreed to speed up cooperation on the financial system and public livelihood points, signing memoranda of understanding on extending their forex swap association, a joint financial cooperation plan for 2026-2030, and strengthening exchanges and companies and commerce whereas engaged on the second section of negotiations for a Korea-China free commerce settlement.
The 2026-2030 financial cooperation plan comprises plans for progressing Korea-China financial cooperation in keeping with China’s fifteenth five-year plan.
By Park Min-hee, senior employees author
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