Xi-Trudeau spat exposes frayed ties

China’s foreign ministry yesterday said Chinese President Xi Jinping was not criticising Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, a day after Mr Xi was seen confronting Trudeau at the G20 summit over alleged leaks from a meeting they held.

Mr Xi scolded Mr Trudeau in an on-camera dressing down at the G20 summit, an unusual public spat that could further complicate the strained relations between the two countries.

Footage recorded by reporters at the Bali conclave for world leaders on Wednesday showed Mr Xi upbraiding Mr Trudeau after details of a discussion between the two leaders were leaked to the media.

In the one-minute video clip recorded on the sidelines of the Indonesian summit, Mr Xi tells Mr Trudeau through an interpreter: “Everything we discussed has been leaked to the papers. That is not appropriate.”

Speaking evenly and wearing a slight smile, Mr Xi says: “And that’s not the way (our discussion) was conducted, was it?

“If there is sincerity, we can have conversations based on an attitude of mutual respect. Otherwise, the results will be unpredictable,” he adds, looking directly at Mr Trudeau.

Mr Xi then appears to try to walk past Mr Trudeau, but the Canadian leader replies: “In Canada, we believe in free, open and frank dialogue, and that is what we will continue to have.

“We will continue to look to work constructively together, but there will be things we disagree on,” he tells Xi.

Raising his hands, Mr Xi cuts him off, saying bluntly: “Create the conditions. Create the conditions.” He then broadens his smile, barely looking at Mr Trudeau as he shakes his hand and leaves his counterpart to make his way out of the room.

It is not clear when, if ever, Mr Xi becomes aware that the conversation is being filmed.