As the APEC summit winds down its final day, a snapshot from Chinese Communist Party head Xi Jinping’s arrival in California has appeared on social media.
Footage shows President Biden waiting outside to meet him, and just outside the building, a United States service member was seen holding the flag of communist China.
Visits from foreign leaders are often recognized with the display of their nation’s flag.
According to the State Department, the foreign flag should be flown on a separate staff from the U.S. flag. Both should be the same size and flown at the same height. The U.S. flag is flown in the place of honor—to the viewer’s left.
The decision to station a U.S. service member to hold the flag comes alongside tense U.S.–China relations. Washington remains highly critical of issues including human rights abuses and espionage tied to Beijing.