By SYLVIE CORBET and ELLEN KNICKMEYER (Associated Press)
WASHINGTON (AP) — China mentioned Thursday it had registered a proper protest over President Joe Biden’s reference to Chinese chief Xi Jinping as a “dictator,” whereas Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen pressured the essential significance of the 2 rival powers sustaining relations regardless of their disagreements.
Biden’s remarks at a 2024 reelection fundraiser Tuesday 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.
Biden known as the Chinese president a dictator, depicted him as out-of-touch throughout final winter’s tumult over a Chinese spy balloon, and dismissed China as having “real economic difficulties.”
China’s embassy in Washington mentioned 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 mentioned 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 mentioned. “The Chinese government and people do not accept any political provocation against China’s top leader and will resolutely respond.”
The diplomatic dispute with China comes as Biden hosts Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a lavish state go to the place a central theme might be a shared wariness of China.
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 implications can be.
China and the U.S. lately have been biking out and in of diplomatic flare-ups. China has used measures starting from reducing 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 some extent of drawing distinctions between the world’s democracies and autocracies. The State Department mentioned Thursday that it doesn’t touch upon non-public diplomatic discussions.
Speaking at an unrelated information convention in Paris, Yellen mentioned “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 not too long ago advocated for bettering relations between the U.S. and China, arguing cooperation is required for the sake of sustaining world 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 mentioned 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 tackle 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 mentioned.
She additionally emphasised that debt restructuring was a U.S. precedence.
As a rising variety of nations 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 largest authorities lender.
Citing Zambia, the southern African nation she visited in January, Yellen mentioned 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.
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Corbet reported from Paris.
Source: www.bostonherald.com”