China has called reported comments by US President Joe Biden describing Chinese leader Xi Jinping as a dictator “extremely absurd and irresponsible”.
The new clash of words comes just over a day after Secretary of State Antony Blinken concluded a visit to Beijing that sought to break the ice in a relationship that has hit a historical low.
Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said Biden’s comments at a fundraiser in California “go totally against facts and seriously violate diplomatic protocol, and severely infringe on China’s political dignity”.
“It is a blatant political provocation. China expresses strong dissatisfaction and opposition,” Mao said at a daily briefing.
“The US remarks are extremely absurd and irresponsible,” Mao said.