Biden maintains calling Xi a ‘dictator,’ no shift in Beijing ties.

President Biden Stands by Calling Xi Jinping a “Dictator”

President Joe Biden made it clear that his recent remarks referring to Chinese leader Xi Jinping as a “dictator” will not impact the U.S.–China relationship. During a joint press conference with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Biden confidently stated that he stands by his words about Xi.

When questioned by a reporter about the potential consequences of his comments on the bilateral relationship, Biden dismissed any concerns. He emphasized that he will not shy away from speaking the truth about the U.S.–China relationship.

With a smile, the president addressed the incident that caused some confusion, stating, “But Secretary Blinken had a great trip to China. I expect to be meeting with President Xi sometime in the near future, and I don’t believe it will have any real consequence.”

Biden’s “Dictator” Remark

Biden made the controversial comments about Xi during a fundraiser event in California on June 20. While discussing the recent spy balloon incident, he unexpectedly referred to the Chinese leader as a “dictator.”

According to Biden, the Chinese spy balloon, which was shot down by the U.S. military in February after drifting off course over the United States, caused “great embarrassment” for Xi. The Chinese leader was unaware of the balloon’s presence, which Biden highlighted as a source of embarrassment for dictators.

Positive Developments in U.S.–China Relations

Biden’s remarks came just a day after Secretary of State Antony Blinken concluded his meetings in Beijing. Blinken described his trip to China, including his meeting with Xi, as “robust.” He emphasized that both parties recognized the importance of stabilizing the challenging relations between the two powers.

During a press conference following his meeting with Xi, Blinken stated, “I came to Beijing to enhance high-level communication, to clearly express our positions and intentions in areas of disagreement, and to explore opportunities for collaboration on shared transnational challenges. And we accomplished all of that.”

While Xi expressed satisfaction with the progress made during the talks, Blinken noted that the Chinese communist regime declined the United States’ request to resume military-level exchanges.