12-hour drama over unidentified Chinese bags unfolds at G20 summit.

NEW DELHI: On Thursday, as the city waited anxiously to see if India would be able to pull off a consensus at the G20 summit, a quiet but tense drama was unfolding in one of the five-star hotels, leaving intelligence agencies in a fix.

Security officers at That Palace hotel in New Delhi became suspicious when they noticed the unusual dimensions of the bags belonging to a Chinese team member. Despite being instructed to facilitate the passage of diplomatic baggage, the size of the bags caught their attention. However, diplomatic protocols were followed, and the bags were allowed into the hotel.

Once in the room, a staff member reported “suspicious equipment” in the bags, prompting the security personnel to request a scan. The Chinese team refused to comply with the request, leading to a tense standoff. Eventually, after consultations, the Chinese agreed to remove the equipment from the hotel and have it sent to their embassy.

The security personnel had also noted that the Chinese delegation had requested a separate and “private” internet connection, which the hotel declined. The 12-hour-long drama finally ended when the Chinese security agreed to remove the equipment from the hotel.

The nature of the equipment remains a mystery, as the Indian security team did not get a chance to examine the devices. Intelligence officials speculate that the equipment could be used for intercepting and jamming secure communication channels. However, without further examination, no definitive conclusions can be drawn.

The incident occurred while the Brazilian president, the next host of the G20 summit, was also staying in the same hotel. Sources involved in the security at Taj Palace confirmed that the Chinese security personnel resisted the request to check the equipment, but the Indian security team stood their ground.

Chinese President Xi Jinping did not attend the G20 summit and sent Premier Li Qiang instead. Li’s arrival was announced at the last minute, surprising Indian agencies as he did not travel on one of the usual “special aircraft” meant for senior leaders.

In summary:

★A Chinese team member’s bags caught the attention of security officers at That Palace hotel in New Delhi.
★The bags were allowed into the hotel, but staff reported “suspicious equipment” inside.
★The Chinese team refused to have the bags and equipment scanned.
★After a tense standoff, the Chinese agreed to remove the equipment and have it sent to their embassy.
★The nature of the equipment remains unknown, as it was not examined by Indian security.
★Chinese President Xi Jinping did not attend the G20 summit, surprising Indian agencies.