Did The Chinese Attempt To Spy On US President Joe Biden At The G-20 Summit? Report Reveals

The Chinese delegation likely wanted to spy on the US President Joe Biden and his delegation, who were staying in an adjoining hotel during the G-20 Summit, reported Times of India.

According to the report, the Chinese delegation participating in the G-20 Summit in Delhi was found carrying 20 bags with suspicious equipment.

The delegation of six Chinese officials who were carrying these suspicious bags was led by a female official.

"The bags measured approximately 1x1 meter in length and width and were approximately 10 inches thick," a source cited by TOI stated.

Security personnel at the Taj Palace Hotel grew suspicious about the size of the luggage brought by the Chinese delegation, prompting Indian authorities to request the Chinese officials to open the bags for inspection or pass them through a scanner.

However, the Chinese representatives reportedly declined these requests.

This led to a prolonged standoff lasting for 12 hours between Indian security agencies and the Chinese officials carrying the suspected bags during the G20 Summit.

Indian security personnel maintained their presence on the hotel's sixth floor throughout this period. The situation was eventually resolved when the Chinese officials agreed to send the bags to the Chinese embassy.

This development is significant as the Brazilian President was also staying in the same hotel, and many other heads of states, including US President Joe Biden and his delegation, were staying at the adjoining ITC Maurya Hotel.

The bags had not been subjected to scanning at the airport due to diplomatic protocols governed by the Vienna Convention.

"There was no way we would have allowed them to keep the equipment in the hotel until we were absolutely satisfied about what exactly they were meant for," the report citing a source said.

The security establishment is currently investigating whether the equipment within the bags may have been 'off-the-air' surveillance equipment.

Chinese President Xi Jinping chose to skip the G-20 Summit, with Chinese Premier Li Qiang representing the country in Xi's absence.