Barack Obama forced to exit from ‘ass’ of Air Force One

A scene captured indicating a delicate psychological war was taking place between the U.S. and China over the issues surrounding them such as the deployment of controversial Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system in South Korea. The U.S.-China summit was scheduled to be held on Saturday.

When U.S. President Barack Obama landed in Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport in 3 p.m. Saturday, he was not provided with a staircase to leave Air Force One. When global leaders arrive in airports, hosting country conventionally provides a staircase. But this time was different. The U.S. president had to disembark from the exit of the plane’s belly instead of the one in the front, as Chinese authorities delivered a calculated diplomatic snub to him. The alternative exit was for staffs. Obama had to use the staircase of Air Force One as no staircase was provided.

His unusual exit was followed by a verbal encounter between White House press corps and Chinese security officials. As the reporters approached to the belly of the plane, Chinese securities stopped them. When U.S. presidential aides said, “He is our president and this is our plane,” Chinese security officials were caught on the video telling the aides, “This is our country! This is our airport!” even banning the U.S. reporters from covering the welcoming ceremony. Even Obama's National Security Adviser Susan Rice was not allowed to be near to the belly exit. She was accompanying Obama at the summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping. “They did things that weren’t anticipated,” Rice told reporters.

Similar situations occurred again during the summit. The U.S. presidential aides and security service officials arrived ahead of Obama, but their entrance was defined for a while. Chinese authorities insisted that the number of U.S. reporters should be limited to 10 and the U.S. side denied by saying that White House press corps should deliver the coverage of the summit to their colleagues. Such verbal encounter had continued 20 minutes before president Obama arrived. The mood went sour and almost seemed to break out a fight. The Wall Street Journal reported that China rejected the White House’s offer to hold a joint media conference between Obama and Xi after the summit.

Chinese foreign ministry plans to gift exquisite silk products to the world leaders’ spouses who attended the G20 summit, China's state-run Global Times reported on Sunday. The gift set contains a scarf and handbag and it will be delivered in a luxurious rosewood box. Hangzhou is known for one of the center of China’s silk production. Commentators say that the silk gift is related to the China's One Belt and One Road policy.

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