Surprise, surprise! Chinese President Xi Jinping is skipping the BRICS summit in Brazil, despite having met Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva twice in less than a year! Instead, the Chinese delegation will be led by Premier Li Qiang. Is this a sign that China is losing interest in BRICS or just a convenient excuse to dodge some awkward topics? The July summit in Rio is bound to be juicy, and we can’t wait to see how the other members react to the absence of the biggest player. Sound off in the comments – is this a political message or just another diplomatic game? Drop your hot takes below!
