What Biden said:
During a campaign fundraiser in California on Tuesday, June 14, 2023, President Biden referred to Chinese President Xi Jinping as a “dictator.” Biden said, “We need to make sure we are standing up to the challenges posed by China, not just in terms of their economic power, but also their political power, their use of force in terms of their military.”
Xi’s response:
Xi Jinping did not directly respond to Biden’s comment, but he did say in a speech on Wednesday that China would “never seek hegemony” and that it would “never impose its will on other countries.”
Impact on China ties:
Some Chinese officials have criticized the comment, while others have said that it will not have a significant impact on China-US relations.
It is still too early to say what the long-term impact of comment of Biden will be on China ties. However, it is clear that the comment has already generated some tension between the two countries.
Other recent developments in China-US relations:
- In May 2023, the US and China held their first high-level economic dialogue since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. The dialogue was seen as an attempt to improve relations between the two countries.
- In June 2023, the US and China held their first high-level security dialogue since the start of the Biden administration. The dialogue was seen as an attempt to address the growing tensions between the two countries.
It is clear that China-US relations are at a critical juncture. It remains to be seen whether Biden’s comment will have a significant impact on the relationship, but it is clear that the two countries need to find a way to cooperate if they want to avoid conflict.
