Why has PM Narendra Modi opted to stay in a Chinese-owned hotel that Barack Obama refused?

Washington: Breaking a long established tradition, US President Barack Obama and his entourage would not stay at the now Chinese-owned Waldorf Astoria New York​ hotel in New York when he travels to the city to attend the annual session of the UN General Assembly later this month.

Instead, Obama would be staying at the luxurious New York Palace hotel, the White House has confirmed.

While Obama is apparently unwilling to run the risk of possible "bugging", Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is scheduled to visit New York later this month to attend the annual session of the UN General Assembly, has decided to stay at Waldorf Astoria New York hotel this year, reports The Times of India.

Notably, Indian Prime Ministers over the past few years have stayed at the New York Palace hotel, including Modi when he visited the Big Apple last September.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping have, meanwhile, booked their suites at the Waldorf Astoria.

Notably, for the past several decades, it was a tradition for the US Presidents to stay at the Waldorf Astoria, which was earlier owned by Hilton Worldwide Holdings and was sold to a Chinese conglomerate last year.

Given the allegations that large scale cyber-attack in the US emanates from China, US officials and security experts were concerned about espionage and security of the President at Waldorf Astoria​.

It is interesting to note that the New York Palace Hotel, where Obama will now be staying, was bought by the Koreans earlier this year.