Copyright Digital Trends
What Happened: So, get this: China’s President Xi Jinping actually cracked a joke… about spying. He was in South Korea on Saturday meeting with their president, Lee Jae Myung, and he brought gifts: two new Xiaomi smartphones. When President Lee got the phones, he (probably jokingly) asked about their security. Without missing a beat, Xi quipped, “You can check if there’s a backdoor.” You know, a “backdoor” like the secret surveillance software everyone’s afraid of. The room apparently burst out laughing, and it was all caught on camera. Just a super unusual, candid moment. Why This Is Important: Okay, so why is everyone talking about this? Because leaders, especially Xi Jinping, do not joke about spying. Ever. Xi is famous for his super-serious, totally scripted public appearances. His little joke was basically a public wink-and-a-nod to the massive elephant in the room: the world’s deep-seated fear that Chinese-made tech is used for espionage. It’s the very reason the U.S., UK, and Australia have banned companies like Huawei from their networks. It’s the kind of thing you’re not supposed to say out loud, and he just did. Recommended Videos Why Should I Care: This one little, awkward moment perfectly captures the incredibly tight spot South Korea is in. The U.S. is their main security ally, but China is their biggest economic partner. What’s President Lee supposed to do, not take the gift? It just shows that tech isn’t just tech anymore. Phones, chips, and data are now at the very centre of global politics, just as much as military strength. What’s Next: Let’s be real, President Lee’s security team is never, ever going to let him use those phones for real work. Not a chance.
