Xi Jinping will be clocking up air miles this week, zipping from Beijing to Bishkek to Cairo and back.
It’s part of a diplomatic push designed to increase the Chinese leader’s influence just as that of President Donald Trump slides, with his “America First” approach riling much of the globe.
On display will be an array of diplomatic approaches that help Xi boost his international standing, including his emphasis on the personal touch.
First stop is the capital of Kyrgyzstan for a state visit to meet with President Sadyr Japarov. It’s a classic example of “neighborhood diplomacy,” a top Xi priority aimed at securing peace and stability along China’s borderlands.
Japarov is also hosting the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, putting Xi in the same room with Russia’s Vladimir Putin, Narendra Modi of India and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. The show of power signals to Trump that his unilateral actions in Iran and elsewhere aren’t going unchallenged.
Still, while Iran will be top of the agenda, don’t anticipate much more than symbolic solidarity. It’s indicative of an inherent weakness of the body, stymied by internal rivalry and lacking a clear remit beyond the vague goal of building mutual trust.
In Egypt, Xi will be visiting a North African heavyweight that’s engaged in an increasingly precarious geopolitical balancing act between Washington and Beijing.
One example: Chinese tech champion Huawei has proposed supplying Cairo with AI chips for data centers, prompting Washington to assemble a possible counteroffer.
Meanwhile Egypt and Kyrgyzstan are both Global South countries, yet another prong of Xi’s statecraft aimed at fostering alignment with China’s position.
Xi’s diplomacy doesn’t stop there: It’s widely anticipated that he’ll attend the Modi-hosted BRICS summit in mid-September before heading to Washington.
Galvanized by his travels, expect an even more confident Xi to sit across the table from Trump. — Colum Murphy