Calling Xi A "Dictator" Doesn't Undermine U.S.-China Ties: Biden

President Joe Biden said the blowback over his calling President Xi Jinping of China a “dictator” would not undermine diplomatic progress between Washington and Beijing, Abigail Williams, Andrea Mitchell and Katherine Doyle reported for NBC News.

Photo Insert: Biden’s “dictator” remarks came Tuesday during a campaign fundraiser in California, suggesting Xi was embarrassed because he did not know about the alleged Chinese spy balloon that had traversed the US in February.

“The answer to your question is no,” Biden said during a White House news conference on Thursday when asked if his comments were damaging to US-China relations, dismissing the riff as “an incident that caused some confusion.”

He added: “I don’t think it’s had any real consequence.”

The president said he expects to meet with Xi “in the near term.” Earlier Thursday, the Chinese Embassy said the country’s ambassador to the US, Xie Feng, had made “strong protests” to White House and State Department officials.

Chinese Embassy spokesperson Liu Pengyu called the remarks “erroneous, absurd and irresponsible,” and warned that the Chinese government “does not accept any political provocation against China’s top leader and will resolutely respond.”

Biden’s “dictator” remarks came Tuesday during a campaign fundraiser in California, suggesting Xi was embarrassed because he did not know about the alleged Chinese spy balloon that had traversed the US in February.

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