Chinese Foreign Ministry reacts to Biden's 'dictator' remark as a breach of diplomatic etiquette

U.S. President Joe Biden's remarks labeling Chinese President Xi Jinping as a "dictator" drew a strong rebuke from the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which stated that the comments "seriously violate diplomatic etiquette."

Mao Ning, spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said at a regular briefing on the 21st that Biden's remarks were "completely absurd and irresponsible, seriously violating basic facts and diplomatic etiquette, severely infringing on China's political dignity, and constituting an open political provocation." Mao also expressed "strong dissatisfaction" and "firm opposition" to the remarks.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Earlier, on the 20th (local time), the day after U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with President Xi, Biden referred to Xi as a dictator during a fundraising event held in California. Explaining the situation when the U.S. shot down a Chinese reconnaissance balloon that entered U.S. airspace in February, he said, "The reason Xi Jinping was very upset when I shot down the balloon carrying intelligence equipment equivalent to two vehicles was because he did not know it was there," adding, "Not knowing what is happening is an embarrassment for dictators."

AFP reported that President Biden equated President Xi with dictators. The British BBC emphasized that "Biden's remarks came just one day after the Beijing meeting aimed at easing tensions between the two countries," and noted that "the Chinese government has yet to issue an official response to President Biden's comments."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.