Chinese President Xi Jinping let out a hearty laugh and displayed sharp wit during a lighthearted exchange with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung at the APEC summit in Gyeongju on Sunday. The moment of levity occurred when Lee jokingly asked about the security of his Chinese-made smartphones, prompting Xi to respond with a sly remark.
As they exchanged gifts, Lee wondered aloud if there was a "backdoor" in the phones, a reference to pre-installed software that could allow third-party monitoring. Xi playfully pointed at the devices and invited Lee to check for a backdoor, eliciting laughs and applause from his counterpart.
The exchange took place amidst heightened tensions between China and South Korea over security concerns and espionage allegations. However, in this moment of levity, the two leaders appeared to have found common ground.
The US has warned that Chinese smartphones may have "backdoors" that could be exploited by hackers, but China denies any allegations of cyber espionage. Xi's response, however, was a rare display of humor from one of the world's most secretive leaders.
Lee's lighthearted comment and Xi's witty reply were captured on TV cameras, generating huge media interest in South Korea. The interaction offered a glimpse into Xi's personality, showcasing that even when discussing sensitive topics like security, he can crack a joke.
This moment of levity was not the only rare display of humor from Xi during his visit to South Korea. In September, at a Chinese military parade in Beijing, a hot mic caught Xi and other world leaders discussing organ transplants and immortality. The exchange highlighted the unusual nature of their conversation and provided insight into their personalities.
The encounter between Xi and Lee has sparked online interest, with some comparing it to a "martial arts masters trading lines in a duel." Lee's spokesperson claimed that the moment of levity was proof of the two leaders' bond during the summit, emphasizing the importance of personal chemistry in building relationships.
As they exchanged gifts, Lee wondered aloud if there was a "backdoor" in the phones, a reference to pre-installed software that could allow third-party monitoring. Xi playfully pointed at the devices and invited Lee to check for a backdoor, eliciting laughs and applause from his counterpart.
The exchange took place amidst heightened tensions between China and South Korea over security concerns and espionage allegations. However, in this moment of levity, the two leaders appeared to have found common ground.
The US has warned that Chinese smartphones may have "backdoors" that could be exploited by hackers, but China denies any allegations of cyber espionage. Xi's response, however, was a rare display of humor from one of the world's most secretive leaders.
Lee's lighthearted comment and Xi's witty reply were captured on TV cameras, generating huge media interest in South Korea. The interaction offered a glimpse into Xi's personality, showcasing that even when discussing sensitive topics like security, he can crack a joke.
This moment of levity was not the only rare display of humor from Xi during his visit to South Korea. In September, at a Chinese military parade in Beijing, a hot mic caught Xi and other world leaders discussing organ transplants and immortality. The exchange highlighted the unusual nature of their conversation and provided insight into their personalities.
The encounter between Xi and Lee has sparked online interest, with some comparing it to a "martial arts masters trading lines in a duel." Lee's spokesperson claimed that the moment of levity was proof of the two leaders' bond during the summit, emphasizing the importance of personal chemistry in building relationships.
just imagine xi Jinping being that casual about national security 
, and lee Jae Myung calling him out on it 
. i guess when you're dealing with sensitive topics, a little humor can go a long way 
. but seriously, it's kinda refreshing to see two leaders having fun and not taking themselves too seriously 
. maybe it's just a way to diffuse the tension between china and south korea, who knows 
. one thing's for sure, it's not every day you get to see xi Jinping being witty and charming 
.
ASEC sums are always so intense 
but sometimes you just need to LOL 
like when Xi and Lee exchanged gifts at the APEC summit. Xi's sharp wit is totally on point 
. I think it's awesome that they found common ground despite tensions between China & South Korea. It's not often you see a leader showing their funny side 
those "backdoor" jokes are everything i need some world leader with a sense of humor lol xj's response was so sharp and playful it made me forget about all the tension between china and south korea. u think lee's comment was lighthearted or was he just trying to get under xi's skin? either way, it's awesome that they were able to find some levity in a tense situation 
I think its kinda weird how the US is always warning about these "backdoors" in Chinese phones but China just laughs it off like it's no big deal 
. It's like, can't we all just be a little bit lighter and playful when things get tough? 
Can we learn from his approach? Maybe instead of getting caught up in the drama, we can try to have a little fun with it too 
.
. Xi's response was definitely a surprise, but I think its awesome that he showed his playful side - it humanizes him a bit more 
. Maybe this is the start of something new and positive between china and south korea? 
seems like an easy way for south korea to get china on good terms... meanwhile, the US is over here warning about chinese smartphones having backdoors 
! I mean, who knew Xi Jinping had such a great sense of humor 
. Either way, it's definitely made my day 
I'm not sure if we should be reading too much into Xi's humor, considering the security tensions between China and South Korea. 
either way, it's definitely a nice change of pace from all the usual policy talks and security concerns 
. it's like we're seeing a different side of xi, one that's not as serious all the time 
. and honestly, who wouldn't want to check for backdoors in their chinese smartphone? 