This has become a global clique of foreign dignitaries who did this. Pat Nixon, the wife of Richard Nixon, wore red when she went to China in 1972 on the famous tour where ties with America were reestablished. Even male leaders, they have a slightly harder time getting in on the act. But Putin, Robert Mugabe, many others have done red ties to meet Mr. Xi. And do you think it actually plays into diplomacy? Well, I guess the thing about diplomatic trips is that they are heaped with symbolism. So wearing red is a form of flattery. Of course, it's just one of many aspects of the wider geopolitical jockeying.