China's Xi likely to decline Trump's inauguration invitation: Report

Donald Trump's incoming press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, recently confirmed that Donald Trump had invited Chinese leader Xi Jingping to January's inauguration.

However, experts don't think that Xi Jingping is at all likely to accept the invitation.

"Can you imagine Xi Jinping sitting outdoors in Washington, D.C., in January at the feet of the podium, surrounded by hawkish members of Congress, gazing up at Donald Trump as he delivers his inaugural address?" said Danny Russel, who used to be assistant secretary for state of East Asian and Pacific affairs.

Russel added that Xi would probably not allow himself to "be reduced to the status of a mere guest celebrating the triumph of a foreign leader — the U.S. president, no less."

Yun Sun, director of the China program at the Stimson Center, also thinks that Trump is not likely to see Xi in person on Inauguration Day.

"I don't think the Chinese will take the risk."

If Trump imposes incredible tariffs on Chinese goods like he's promised, then Xi would look pretty foolish sitting in the audience supporting the decision.

"They have always demanded that any leader trip to Washington be treated as a full ‘state visit’ with all the bells and whistles," Danny Russel added.