Calay News
The signs of calm did not last long, as US President Joe Biden compared his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, to “dictators,” which was considered by China as “ridiculous” and a “direct political provocation.”
Referring to the recent crisis in which the United States shot down a Chinese balloon it considered a spy, Biden claimed Tuesday that the reason the Chinese president was so angry was because he did not know the device was there.
Speaking at a Democratic Party reception in California in the presence of reporters, Biden said, “It’s very embarrassing for dictators when they don’t know what’s going on.” He further added that when the balloon was shot down, Xi Jinping was embarrassed and denied that he was there.
These statements were condemned by China, which called Biden’s comments “ridiculous.” Mao Ning, a spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, pointed out that this comment was irresponsible and did not reflect reality. He stated that it was a direct political provocation.
Russia also criticized Biden’s comments, calling Washington’s foreign policy unpredictable.
This exchange comes after US Secretary of State Antony Blinken concluded a successful visit to Beijing, the first by a US chief diplomat in nearly five years. Despite lingering disagreements, the meeting between Blinken and Xi Jinping was considered a success by both countries.
Biden acknowledged Blinken’s efforts in Beijing and mentioned that China and Xi Jinping are interested in restoring the relationship. However, he warned that it would take time to calm tensions between the two global powers.
In addition, the US president expressed his concerns about China’s difficult economic situation. He also mentioned the “Quad” summit in May, in which the leaders of Australia, India, Japan, and the United States criticized China’s Asia-Pacific policy.
This statement by Biden during the reception is not the first time he has made strong statements at fundraising events. In October 2022, he mentioned the risk of a nuclear “apocalypse” triggered by Russia at a similar event.
