Chinese President Gifts Two Xiaomi Smartphones to South Korean Leader
During an official visit on Saturday, Chinese President Xi Jinping presented South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol with two Xiaomi smartphones, playfully suggesting that he should “check for any backdoors” in them.
Official Reception and Dinner
President Yoon hosted President Xi at an official summit and dinner following the meeting of leaders from the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum in Gyeongju. This marks Xi’s first trip to South Korea in 11 years.
Showcasing Technological Ambitions
The gift of two Chinese-made Xiaomi devices to the leader of South Korea, home to tech giant Samsung Electronics, highlights President Xi’s ambitions within the technology sector.
After presenting Xi with a fine wooden board for the ancient Chinese strategic game Go, both leaders turned their attention to the smartphones presented in black boxes. An official noted that the phones were set to South Korean language settings.
Light-Hearted Moment
As President Yoon raised one of the boxes to inspect it, he inquired about the security of communications. Xi and the gathered officials erupted in laughter, with Xi pointing to the smartphones and responding, “You can check to see if there’s a backdoor.”
The term “backdoor” refers to hidden methods that allow unauthorized access to devices or to bypass security measures.
Both leaders laughed and President Yoon clapped as they continued exchanging gifts, which included a traditional Korean tray inlaid with mother of pearl.
Addressing Security Concerns
Xi’s comment echoes Beijing’s concerns regarding a U.S. proposal suggesting that advanced chips sold abroad could feature tracking and location functions, prompting American chipmaker Nvidia to assure that their chips do not contain any “backdoors.”
Cooperation on North Korea
During the summit, President Yoon requested Xi’s assistance in efforts to resume negotiations with nuclear-armed North Korea. Xi responded that he is open to enhancing cooperation and collectively addressing challenges.