Dear Focus Reader,

As U.S. President Joe Biden and other world leaders gather in Delhi for the G20 Summit this weekend, one notable absence will be Chinese leader Xi Jinping, marking the first time he hasn't personally attended since 2012. Instead, the Chinese delegation will be led by Premier Li Qiang. Biden expressed his disappointment over Xi's absence and hinted at a potential meeting in the near future. While he did not elaborate, the next likely opportunity for a Biden-Xi meeting is at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in San Francisco in November.

This weekend's G20 meeting follows the 26th ASEAN Plus Three meeting and the East Asia Summit, where both Chinese Premier Li and U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris were present. At the ASEAN Plus Three gathering, Premier Li encouraged ASEAN, Japan, and South Korea to support Hong Kong's RCEP trade deal bid, manage differences with China, and avoid a "new cold war."

These discussions occurred in the backdrop of Japan's decision to release treated wastewater from the Fukushima nuclear plant into the Pacific Ocean, which has prompted diplomatic tensions with Beijing. China has voiced strong opposition to Japan's wastewater disposal and recently announced a ban on all seafood imports from Japan. China is the largest overseas market for Japanese seafood.Experts note that the overall impact on trade will remain limited unless China extends its restrictions to other trade sectors.

We invite you to explore our latest Focus content, including articles covering the recent BRICS Summit in South Africa, the trilateral meeting involving the U.S., Japan, and the Republic of Korea, the proposed U.S. legislation, the "Taiwan International Solidarity Act" (TISA), and the state of China-Philippines relations.

Thank you for your continued support of our platform. Have a wonderful weekend!

Team Focus