China will send an envoy, Vice President Han Zheng, to Donald Trump’s inauguration as president, the country’s foreign ministry said in a news release.
Karoline Leavitt, who will serve as press secretary in Trump’s new administration, confirmed last month that Chinese President Xi Jinping was invited to the event.
Han’s presence at the inauguration comes at a time of uncertainty for the relationship between Washington and Beijing, with Trump threatening to slap tariffs on the full scope of Chinese goods entering the U.S. In recent days, the Biden administration has ramped up export restrictions designed to reduce the flow of AI-related computer chips into China.
Xi apparently turned down Trump’s invitation last month but the Financial Times reported last week that the Chinese leader was considering Han or Foreign Minister Wang Yi to attend the inauguration in his place.
The choice of Han may be a disappointment for the Trump team because he has a largely symbolic role in the Chinese leadership structure. Wang’s attendance would have allowed him to segue post-inauguration into talks with Trump’s foreign policy team that could have — for better or worse — determined the tenor of U.S.-China ties at the administration’s outset.
