Key takeaways:
- China has called US President Joe Biden’s comments “extremely absurd and irresponsible”
- The comments were in reference to an incident in February when a Chinese balloon flew over the US
- The US and China have been at odds for some time now, with tensions escalating in recent months
China has responded to comments made by US President Joe Biden at a fundraiser in California, calling them “extremely absurd and irresponsible”.
At the Tuesday fundraiser, Biden had referred to Chinese leader Xi Jinping as a dictator. This was in reference to an incident in February when a Chinese balloon, which the US says was used for spying, flew over the US before being shot down by American military jets.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said that Biden’s comments “go totally against facts and seriously violate diplomatic protocol, and severely infringe on China’s political dignity.” Mao also expressed “strong dissatisfaction and opposition” to the comments.
The response from China comes just days after US Secretary of State Antony Blinken concluded a visit to Beijing aimed at re-establishing lines of communication in order to avoid conflict between the two countries.
The US and China have been at odds for some time now, with tensions escalating in recent months. The US has accused China of human rights abuses and of unfair trade practices, while China has accused the US of interfering in its internal affairs.
The latest clash of words between the two countries is likely to further strain the already tense relationship. It remains to be seen how the two countries will move forward in the coming weeks and months.
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