By ELLEN KNICKMEYER and SYLVIE CORBET (Associated Press)
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden on Thursday defended his harsh public feedback on China, together with calling President Xi Jinping a dictator, saying his phrases would haven’t any unfavourable affect on U.S.-China relations and that he nonetheless expects to fulfill with Xi sooner or later.
Biden stated his blunt statements relating to China are “just not something I’m going to change very much.”
At a marketing campaign fundraiser on Tuesday, Biden additionally depicted the Chinese president as out-of-touch throughout final winter’s tumult over a Chinese spy balloon and dismissed China as having “real economic difficulties.”
The remarks opened a brand new rift simply after Secretary of State Antony Blinken concluded a go to to Beijing that was meant as a step towards stabilizing ties and bettering communications with China. But Biden was undeterred.
“I expect to be meeting with President Xi sometime in the future, near-term. And I don’t think it’s had any real consequence,” he stated, talking throughout a White House information convention alongside visiting Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Just hours earlier, nevertheless, China’s embassy in Washington stated it had delivered a proper protest, with Chinese Ambassador Xie Feng telling senior White House and State Department officers Wednesday that Washington “should take earnest actions to undo the negative impact” of what Biden stated or “bear all the consequences.”
“With the latest irresponsible remarks about China’s political system and its top leader, people cannot help but question the sincerity of the U.S. side” in looking for to stabilize relations, the embassy assertion stated. “The Chinese government and people do not accept any political provocation against China’s top leader and will resolutely respond.”
As an official government-to-government communication, the ambassador’s message to the Biden administration carries extra weight than the essential feedback made a day earlier by a Chinese authorities spokesperson to reporters. China gave no additional particulars of how the ambassador delivered his message, whether or not it was looking for an apology from the Biden administration, or what the results could be.
China and the U.S. in recent times have been biking out and in of diplomatic flare-ups. China has used measures starting from chopping diplomatic ties to staging navy maneuvers off Taiwan to point out its displeasure.
Biden administration officers on Wednesday defended Biden’s remarks, saying the president has made a degree of drawing distinctions between the world’s democracies and autocracies. The State Department stated Thursday that it doesn’t touch upon personal diplomatic discussions.
Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen addressed the newest rift Thursday at an unrelated information convention in Paris, saying, “with respect to the comments, I think President Biden and I both believe it’s critical to maintain communication … to clear up misperceptions, miscalculations. We need to work together where possible.”
“But we have disagreements, and we are also forthright in recognizing we do have disagreements,” she added.
Yellen has just lately advocated for bettering relations between the U.S. and China, arguing cooperation is required for the sake of sustaining international stability.
Speaking as a two-day gathering will get underway in Paris on bettering the worldwide monetary response to local weather change and poverty, Yellen stated she was “certainly pleased to see China participating in this summit.”
Chinese Premier Li Qiang was among the many dozens of heads of state and authorities, world finance officers and activists who converged on the French capital to debate methods of reforming the worldwide monetary system and deal with debt, local weather change and poverty crises, particularly for creating nations.
“I believe it’s important, as President Biden does, that the world’s two largest economies are … working together in addressing global challenges,” Yellen stated.
She additionally emphasised that debt restructuring was a U.S. precedence.
As a rising variety of international locations wrestle with unsustainable debt aggravated by the fallout from local weather change, Yellen inspired all collectors to enter into negotiations to make the burden sustainable. China is the world’s greatest authorities lender.
Citing Zambia, the southern African nation she visited in January, Yellen stated she was “encouraged by progress” relating to debt negotiations and hoped “debt treatment can move forward soon.” She didn’t present particulars.
“Other urgent pending cases must also move forward quickly,” she added, mentioning Ghana and Sri Lanka.
Source: www.bostonherald.com”