Secretary of State Antony Blinken stood by President Joe Biden after Biden referred to Chinese President Xi Jinping as a dictator during a fundraising event Tuesday.
“The President always speaks candidly, he speaks directly. He speaks clearly, and he speaks for all of us,” Blinken said Sunday during an interview on CBS’ “Face the Nation.”
Biden’s remarks Tuesday came just days after Blinken returned from a highly anticipated trip to China, where he met with Xi and other high-level Chinese officials in an effort to diminish the tensions that had been rising between the two countries since a Chinese spy balloon was spotted flying over the United States in February.
China was quick to respond to Biden’s comments, calling them “a blatant political provocation.”
“China expresses strong dissatisfaction and opposition,” said Mao Ning, spokesperson for the Chinese foreign ministry, at a regular press briefing, the Associated Press reported. “The U.S. remarks are extremely absurd and irresponsible,” Mao added.
On Sunday, Blinken did not make any efforts to walk back the president’s comments.
“The main purpose [of the trip] was to bring some greater stability to the relationship. We have an obligation, and I think China has an obligation to manage that relationship responsibly, to make sure that the profound differences we have don't veer into conflict,” Blinken said.
“But one of the things that I said to [my] Chinese counterparts during this trip was that we are going to continue to do things, and say things that you don't like, just as you're no doubt going to continue to do and say things that we don't like.”
