Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Sunday defended President Biden calling Chinese President Xi Jinping a “dictator.”
Biden referred to Xi as a dictator just one day after Blinken met with the Chinese leader as part of a trip to Beijing to smooth relations. China was furious over Biden’s remark and lodged a formal complaint with the US ambassador in Beijing.
“When it comes to China, we are going to do and say things that they don’t like,” Blinken said on CNN’s State of the Union when asked if Biden was wrong to call Xi a dictator. Blinken said China would also continue to “do and say things that we don’t like,” pointing to the rhetoric from the Chinese Foreign Ministry.
At daily press briefings, representatives of the Chinese Foreign Ministry often harshly criticize US policy toward China but avoid personal insults directed at President Biden.
When asked if he believes Xi is a dictator, Blinken replied, “The president speaks clearly. He speaks candidly. I have worked for him for more than 20 years, and he speaks for all of us.”
During Blinken’s trip to Beijing, the two sides agreed to maintain dialogue, but no breakthroughs were made as the Biden administration is not changing course on major issues of concern for China, such as increasing US support for Taiwan.
Source: AntiWar.
