US Sec. of State Blinken says China ought expect candid talk after Joe Biden calls Xi Jinping ‘dictator’
Hong Kong Free Press
San Francisco, United States
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Thursday that China should expect candid statements it dislikes after President Joe Biden called his counterpart Xi Jinping a “dictator” moments after meeting him.
Blinken, known for his reserve and self-control, was caught on camera appearing to wince slightly at Biden’s response during a news conference following the summit near San Francisco on Wednesday.
Asked in an interview about his response, Blinken, an adviser to Biden for decades, said, “The president always speaks candidly and he speaks for all of us.”
“Look, it’s clear that we will continue to say things and continue to do things that China doesn’t like, just as I assume that they will continue to do and say things that we don’t like,” he told CBS News.
Blinken had travelled to China in June in one of a series of meetings seeking to ease tensions between the world’s two largest economies.
Just a day after Blinken met Xi in Beijing, Biden at a political event in California called the Chinese leader a “dictator,” drawing a rebuke from China.
Asked by a reporter Wednesday if he stood by his assessment, Biden said, “Well look, he is. I mean he’s a dictator in the sense that he’s a guy who’s running a country, a communist country, that’s based on a form of government totally different than ours.”
Asked about Biden’s latest remarks, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said: “This kind of speech is extremely wrong and is irresponsible political manipulation. China firmly opposes it.”
Support HKFP | Policies & Ethics | Error/typo? | Contact Us | Newsletter | Transparency & Annual Report | Apps
Help safeguard press freedom & keep HKFP free for all readers by supporting our team
HKFP has an impartial stance, transparent funding, and balanced coverage guided by an Ethics Code and Corrections Policy.
Support press freedom & help us surpass 1,000 monthly Patrons: 100% independent, governed by an ethics code & not-for-profit.
HKFP Dim Sum is a weekly email summary of our best content sent every Saturday and Monday. Unsubscribe at any time. We will not share your details with third parties.