US President Joe Biden has sparked anger from China after comparing Chinese President Xi Jinping to tyrants during a fundraiser for the Democratic Party. Biden’s remarks came during a ceremony in Northern California, where he discussed the incident of a Chinese balloon that was dropped by Washington in February over Chinese territory. China denied that the balloon was used for espionage, but Biden claimed that Xi was angered because he didn’t know it contained spying equipment.
“The reason Xi Jinping was so upset when I brought down that balloon that contained two crates full of spying equipment was because he didn’t know it was there,” Biden said. He added, “This is the great embarrassment of tyrants when they do not know what is going on.”
These comments from Biden have further strained the already tense relationship between China and the United States. Just days before Biden’s remarks, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken concluded a visit to Beijing, where he aimed to establish lines of communication to prevent a conflict between the two world powers.
In response to Biden’s statements, Beijing criticized them as “an overt political provocation.” China’s Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning described the US side’s statements as “preposterous, irresponsible, far from reality, contrary to diplomatic protocol, and infringing on China’s political dignity.” China expressed its strong dissatisfaction and rejection of Biden’s remarks.
The White House later attempted to ease tensions, with a senior US administration official stating that Blinken had made progress during his visit to China. The official emphasized that diplomacy, including Blinken’s efforts, is the responsible approach to managing tensions.
The conflicting signals in the US foreign policy have raised concerns. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov commented, “These are very conflicting signals in the foreign policy of the United States and indicate its unpredictability to a large extent.”
Despite the controversy, Biden sought to downplay concerns about China, stating that the country is facing real economic difficulties. He also mentioned that Xi has shown a desire to re-establish relations with the US. Biden praised Blinken’s efforts during his visit to Beijing but acknowledged that it will take time to make progress.
Biden also touched on another point of contention with China, referring to the recent summit involving the leaders of Australia, India, Japan, and the United States, known as the Quad. The Quad aims to promote peace and stability in the maritime Asia-Pacific region. Biden stated that the four countries were “working hand in hand in the South China Sea and the Indian Ocean,” which bothered Xi because Biden insisted on uniting the Quad.
This is not the first time Biden has made provocative remarks at a fundraiser. While cameras and recording devices are banned, journalists can still listen to the president’s introductory speech and take notes. In a similar ceremony last October, Biden claimed that Russia poses a nuclear threat that would annihilate the world.
The tensions between the US and China continue to escalate, with Biden’s comparison of Xi to tyrants adding fuel to the fire. The diplomatic efforts of Blinken and the White House’s emphasis on diplomacy as the responsible approach indicate a desire to manage the tensions and avoid further escalation.
What actions did the White House take to try and ease tensions between the US and China following Biden’s comments
The Chinese government has expressed anger towards US President Joe Biden after he likened Chinese President Xi Jinping to tyrants during a Democratic Party fundraiser. The incident took place during a ceremony in Northern California, where Biden discussed a Chinese balloon that was dropped by Washington in February over Chinese territory. While China denied any espionage activity, Biden claimed that Xi was upset because he was unaware that the balloon contained spying equipment.
“The reason Xi Jinping was so upset when I brought down that balloon that contained two crates full of spying equipment was because he didn’t know it was there,” Biden said. He further commented, “This is the great embarrassment of tyrants when they do not know what is going on.”
Biden’s remarks have further strained the already tense relationship between China and the United States. Just before Biden’s statement, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken concluded a visit to Beijing, where he aimed to establish lines of communication to prevent a conflict between the two nations.
In response to Biden’s comments, Beijing criticized them as an “overt political provocation.” China’s Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning described the US statements as “preposterous, irresponsible, far from reality, contrary to diplomatic protocol, and infringing on China’s political dignity.” China expressed strong dissatisfaction and rejection of Biden’s remarks.
The White House subsequently made efforts to ease tensions by issuing a statement that reaffirmed the importance of dialogue and cooperation between the US and China. However, it remains to be seen how these strained relations will be resolved in the future.