this post was submitted on 31 Oct 2025
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[–] XiaCobolt@hexbear.net 24 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (3 children)

Xi speaks English fluently privately. He just doesn't speak it publicly to avoid making mockable mistakes/being seen as weak by hardliners/giving him time to pretend to hear a translation.

I don't know how long it was or what he's staring at but it won't be that.

[–] ClathrateG@hexbear.net 8 points 1 month ago (2 children)

does he speak it with an Idaho accent?

[–] CloutAtlas@hexbear.net 6 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Irish accent, riddled with Gaeilge

[–] spudnik@hexbear.net 2 points 1 month ago

Just like Lenin!

[–] spudnik@hexbear.net 1 points 1 month ago (1 children)

He was in Iowa fwiw, not that it matters. But it is damn near the only good thing that has ever happened in Iowa

[–] ClathrateG@hexbear.net 2 points 1 month ago (1 children)
[–] spudnik@hexbear.net 2 points 1 month ago

Throw Ohio in there as well

[–] Bob_Odenkirk@hexbear.net 4 points 1 month ago

I understand why he does it but I really think Xi would be more popular in the west if he gave us some Jiang-style banter.

[–] vovchik_ilich@hexbear.net 1 points 1 month ago (1 children)

to avoid making mockable mistakes

Or maybe because why the fuck should he be speaking English to other world leaders? Chinese is as good a language as any, English being the standard international language will be obsolete sooner or later, so why not start now?

[–] XiaCobolt@hexbear.net 2 points 1 month ago (1 children)

This reply is somewhat hostile? I don't disagree with you about English, Chinese, international standard languages. Etc

Do you disagree that there might be a chance, if Xi speaking was in a language second to his own, while trying to be diplomatic he might mispronounce or state something in a way that reactionaries would seize upon for propaganda reasons?

[–] vovchik_ilich@hexbear.net 1 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (1 children)

Oh sorry, didn't mean to be hostile to you comrade, I was just blabbering on about English. Sorry that I came across as rude :(

Your reasons are perfectly valid and I wasn't trying to question them, just wanted to point our that I see why speaking Chinese and being translated can be good in and out of itself, more of a position of equality than an "I've learnt the international language".

[–] XiaCobolt@hexbear.net 2 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

No worries. It's all good.

It's worth noting sometimes speaking a person's language can be a power move. Apparently in private Merkel and Putin would keep switching to each others language to try and throw them.

Got to imagine Xi has that in chamber too. No cameras on him private face to face with just interpreters and then he suddenly just drop a response in English.