China has invited Sonia Gandhi to represent India in the opening ceremony of Beijing Olympics and not PM Manmohan Singh. Though there has not been any official communication on the issue. According to some sources, it is a part of Chinese diplomacy. However, there is no likelihood of Sonia Gandhi attending the event due to her busy schedule.

 

The decision is contrary to Chinese invitation to almost all head of states. Analysts are of opinion that this decision has more to do with India’s soft support for Tibet issue. Also, Chinese know that Sonia is the leading stalwart of India’s government and China would like to welcome real possessor of power. China preferred the most powerful leader over the head of government, it seems.

 

Also, last time when Sonia had visited China in October 2007 she had received a warm welcome like the one given to the head of state. The notion in the minds of Chinese rulers may be that they want to give importance to real power possessor. And more importantly, the issue has more to do with thorny issue of Tibet than anything else and India’s efforts to pacify China with its effort to suppress Tibet protestors does not seem to work.