In a diplomatic moment captured on video, Antony Blinken, the Secretary of State, visibly expressed disapproval as President Joe Biden referred to China’s President Xi Jinping as a “dictator.” This incident unfolded during a press conference held after the meeting between Biden and Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) conference.
Antony Blinken, aged 61, could be seen grimacing and fidgeting with his hands in response to President Biden’s characterization of Xi Jinping. The President remarked that Xi is a “dictator in the sense that he is the guy who runs the country that is a communist country… based on a form of government different than ours.”
This video emerged a day after the extensive four-hour meeting between Joe Biden and Xi Jinping, marking their first in-person encounter in a year. While Xi Jinping conveyed China’s intent to maintain friendly relations with the United States and emphasized a commitment to avoid engaging in wars, Biden’s characterization of him as a dictator adds a layer of complexity to the already delicate US-China relationship.
It is noteworthy that this is not the first instance of President Biden referring to Xi Jinping as a dictator; a similar statement in June had elicited a strong response from Beijing. The fallout from such remarks continues to impact diplomatic relations, with Antony Blinken seemingly grappling with the repercussions during this recent press conference.
Analysts highlight the significance of these diplomatic nuances, emphasizing the challenges in maintaining a delicate balance in international relations, particularly between major global players like the United States and China. The fallout from this encounter is likely to reverberate in the ongoing efforts to stabilize and redefine the dynamics between these two influential nations.
