Chinese President Xi Jinping may have skipped the G-20 and ASEAN summits due to a clash with retired party seniors during his annual retreat. This is due to a series of issues in Chinese politics, including the decennial rollover of leadership, which left Xi as president, and the standoff with the West, its top export destination, leading to slowing exports and economic growth.

Former Vice President Zeng Qinghong, a close aide of former President Jiang Zemin, is believed to have led the charge. The elders of the Communist Party of China were upset by the forcible removal of Hu Jintao from the National Congress in October last year.

Prime Minister Li Qiang, responsible for the economy, is expected to stand up for Xi at both ASEAN and G-20 meetings. Xi had not attended a business forum addressed by all leaders on the sidelines of the recent BRICS summit in South Africa, and it is now thought that he may have skipped the session to avoid uncomfortable questions about the Chinese economy.