G20 Summit: How 'Suspicious Bag' Of Chinese Delegates Created High Drama At Delhi's Taj Hotel

Chinese President Xi Jinping was one of the most notable absentees, along with Russia's Vladimir Putin, in the recently concluded G20 Summit in New Delhi.

But that doesn't mean that there was no drama by the Chinese during the high-profile event in the Indian capital.

REUTERS

Suspicious bag of Chinese delegation

According to reports, there was an hours-long standoff at the Taj Palace five-star hotel in Delhi over a suspicious bag carried by the members of the Chinese delegation attending the G20 Summit.

The Chinese delegation reportedly had a bag with "unusual dimensions" that was allowed to be carried due to diplomatic protocols, which provided them immunity from scrutiny.

REUTERS

But things took a dramatic turn after a hotel employee spotted what they described as "suspicious equipment" concealed within two bags while attending to one of the delegation's rooms.

After this was reported, the Chinese delegation was asked by the Taj Palace Hotel to submit their bags for a routine scan.

How the drama unfolded

The Chinese delegation refused, resulting in a prolonged standoff that reportedly lasted for approximately 12 hours.

The drama ended after the Chinese delegation agreed to send the bags in question to their embassy.

REUTERS

More than suspicious bag

It is still unclear what is the exact nature of the "suspicious equipment" in the bag.

Given the kind of surveillance China is known to use around the world, there is a suspicion that the equipment in question could be some sort of spy device.

There are also reports that the Chinese delegation had also sought a private internet connection, different from the one that the hotel provided. The demand, however, was tuned down.

India, US, EU, Saudi counter China at G20

Beijing was represented by Chinese Premier Li Qiang at the two-day G20 Summit in Delhi and not President Xi.

AFP

One of the most notable outcomes of the G20 summit is an announcement that would directly compete against Chinese interests.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, US President Joe Biden, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Saturday announced plans to build a rail and shipping corridor linking India with the Middle East and Europe.

The India Middle East Europe Corridor, which aims to connect countries along the region through a network of port and railway lines, will rival China's ambitious Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

Also called the One Belt One Road and New Silk Route, China has been undertaking a transcontinental infrastructure project to link East Asia and Europe through physical infrastructure.

But since its launch in 2013, China has expanded its scope to cover Africa, Oceania, and Latin America.

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