Amid bilateral tension unleashed after US jets shot down a balloon Beijing claimed was harmless and for civilian use only, US President Joe Biden said his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping faced “enormous problems” including a fragile economy, comments described as “totally irresponsible” by the Chinese authorities.
In an interview with the PBS NewsHour TV show broadcast on Wednesday, the US president said that China is constrained in its ability to confront the United States by the need to protect international trade and that Xi himself is in an unenviable position. .
“Can you think of any other world leader who would like to trade places with Xi Jinping? I can’t think of any,” Biden said.according to a fragment of the interview, reported the AFP news agency.
“This man has huge problems”added the Democratic president, who later He qualified his statements, noting that the relationship between the United States and China is the most important in the world and that Xi “also has great potential.”.
China’s reaction was immediate, through Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning, who said her country considered Biden’s comments “totally irresponsible.”
“These words from the United States are totally irresponsible and violate the basic rules of diplomatic etiquette,” Mao said.
“These words from the United States are totally irresponsible and violate the basic rules of diplomatic etiquette”mao ning
“China expresses its deep discontent and firm rejection,” he told a regular news conference.
The crossing comes after the episode of the Chinese balloon that flew over the United States and was shot down last week by American fighters because, according to Washington, it was used for espionage..
Beijing assured that it was “a civil aircraft used for research purposes” that deviated from its original course “affected by winds”, condemned the US decision and warned of a response.
This Thursday, the Chinese government said it rejected a call from the head of the US Pentagon, Lloyd Austin, due to Washington’s “irresponsible” decision to shoot down a balloon.
“This irresponsible and seriously erroneous act did not create a climate conducive to dialogue and communication between the two armies,” the Chinese Defense Ministry justified in a statement.
“This irresponsible and seriously erroneous act did not create a climate conducive to dialogue and communication between the two armies,” the Chinese Ministry of Defense justified in a statement.
“The United States insisted on using force to attack the aircraft, which seriously violates international practice and sets a bad precedent,” added the ministry, which warned that Beijing “reserves the right to use the necessary means to deal with situations Similar”.
The case prompted US Secretary of State Antony Blinken to postpone a visit to Beijing aimed at de-escalating tensions and to accuse China of violating US sovereignty.
Biden and Xi met in person last November in the framework of the summit of G20 countries in Bali, Indonesia, the first time since Biden became president in 2021. Since then they have also spoken five times by phone or video call.
