2023-06-21 08:42:48
BEIJING (AP) — China on Wednesday called U.S. President Joe Biden’s comments “extremely absurd and irresponsible” in which he described his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping as a dictator.
The new dialectical clash occurs just one day following the visit of the US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, to Beijing, who wanted to break the ice in relations that are at their worst historical moment.
Biden’s remarks at a fundraiser in California “go totally once morest the facts, seriously violate diplomatic protocol and seriously undermine China’s political dignity,” said Mao Ning, a spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry.
“It is a flagrant political provocation. China expresses its firm dissatisfaction and opposition,” Mao told a daily press conference.
“The US comments are extremely absurd and irresponsible,” he added.
Blinken’s visit, which included a meeting with Xi, was aimed at easing tensions between the two superpowers, but does not appear to have achieved any firm results.
At a fundraiser Tuesday night, Biden said Xi was embarrassed by recent tensions over a suspected Chinese spy balloon that was shot down by the US Air Force over the country’s east coast.
“It is a great shame for the dictators. When they don’t know what happened,” Biden said.
Mao reiterated Beijing’s argument that it was a meteorological research balloon accidentally blown off course.
“The United States should have handled it calmly and professionally,” the spokesperson said. “However, it distorted the facts and used forces to exaggerate the incident, fully revealing its bullying and hegemony nature.”
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