Imagine a diplomatic gift exchange turning into a witty jab at global tech tensions. That’s exactly what happened when Chinese President Xi Jinping gifted South Korean President Lee Jae Myung two Xiaomi smartphones during a state visit on November 1, 2025, in Gyeongju, South Korea. With a playful grin, Xi quipped, ‘Check for a backdoor!’—a remark that instantly grabbed headlines and sparked conversations. But here’s where it gets controversial: Was it a lighthearted joke or a subtle dig at cybersecurity concerns?
The meeting, which followed the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum, marked Xi’s first visit to the U.S. ally in over a decade. Lee hosted Xi at a state summit and dinner, where the gift exchange took center stage. The choice of Xiaomi phones—a Chinese brand—in the home country of tech giant Samsung was no accident. And this is the part most people miss: It symbolized China’s growing technological prowess, a point Xi has repeatedly emphasized in his nation’s five-year economic development plan.
After Lee presented Xi with a meticulously crafted wooden board for the ancient strategy game Go, the two leaders approached the smartphones, elegantly wrapped in black boxes. An official noted that the displays were, ironically, made in South Korea. Lee picked up one of the boxes, examined it, and asked Xi, ‘How is the communication security?’ The room erupted in laughter as Xi pointed to the phones and replied, ‘You can check if there’s a backdoor.’
For the uninitiated, a ‘backdoor’ refers to a hidden vulnerability in a device that allows unauthorized access—a term that’s become a flashpoint in global tech debates. Both leaders laughed off the moment, and Lee even clapped his hands, but the subtext was hard to ignore. Is it just a joke, or does it reflect deeper geopolitical anxieties about tech dominance and surveillance?
The exchange echoed recent controversies, including China’s concerns over a U.S. proposal to equip advanced chips sold abroad with tracking capabilities. U.S. chipmaker Nvidia had to publicly clarify that its chips contained no ‘backdoors.’ Neither China’s foreign ministry nor Xiaomi immediately responded to Reuters’ requests for comment, and Lee’s office declined to add further remarks.
Beyond the humor, the summit addressed serious issues. Lee sought Xi’s assistance in resuming talks with North Korea, while Xi expressed willingness to expand cooperation and tackle shared challenges. Meanwhile, in a separate incident, a hot mic caught Xi and Russian President Vladimir Putin discussing organ transplants and the possibility of humans living to 150 years during a military parade in Beijing in September—a reminder of how off-the-cuff remarks can reveal much about global leaders’ priorities.
So, what do you think? Was Xi’s ‘backdoor’ comment a harmless joke or a strategic jab at tech rivalries? Let us know in the comments—this is one conversation that’s bound to spark differing opinions!
