Biden Labels Xi A 'Dictator' Day After US, China Held Talks To Stabilise Relations

Speaking at the campaign fundraiser, Biden said Xi had been angered over American military jets shooting down a Chinese "spy balloon" in February after it was found flying over the United States

US President Joe Biden while speaking at a Democratic Party donors reception in California on Tuesday equated his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping with "dictators". Speaking at the campaign fundraiser, Biden said Xi had been angered over American military jets shooting down a Chinese "spy balloon" in February after it was found flying over the United States.

"The reason why Xi Jinping got very upset in terms of when I shot that balloon down with two box cars full of spy equipment is he didn't know it was there. I'm serious. That was the great embarrassment for dictators, when they didn't know what happened," said Biden during his address, as reported by AFP.

"That wasn't supposed to be going where it was... and he didn't know about it," the US President further said.

Biden, who is running for re-election at the age of 80, waived off concerns about the Asian giant, telling people at the fundraiser that "China has real economic difficulties."

Speaking on the subject further, Biden said "we're in a situation now where he wants to have a relationship again."

Blinken "did a good job" on his Beijing trip, but "it's going to take time," Biden added, as reported by the news agency.

China and the United States are striving to prevent their intense rivalry from escalating into conflict, but there seems no significant progress.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Monday concluded his visit to Beijing without any major headway. However, both sides said that they had made strides and opened communication channels. Chinese President Xi Jinping acknowledged "progress" after meeting Blinken at the prestigious Great Hall of the People, emphasizing the importance of a stable relationship to avoid global disruption.

Although both sides expressed their desire for stability, China declined to resume military-to-military communication channels due to US sanctions. The two nations still remain entrenched in their positions on various issues, including Taiwan, trade, China's chip industry, human rights, and Russia's conflict with Ukraine.

Tuesday was not the first time Biden has made significant, even provocative, statements at fund-raising receptions. At one such event last October, Biden spoke of the threat of nuclear "Armageddon" from Russia.