Joe Biden’s description of Xi Jinping as a dictator criticised as ‘absurd and irresponsible’ by China
China says comments by Joe Biden describing its leader Xi Jinping as a dictator are “extremely absurd and irresponsible”.
The latest clash comes right after US Secretary of State Antony Blinken concluded a visit to Beijing that had sought to break the ice in what has become an increasingly strained international relationship.
Issues such as the spy balloon that floated over the US and collected data from military sites and the revelation of secret Chinese so-called police stations on American soil have worsened diplomatic ties in recent months.
Foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said President 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,” Ms Mao said at a daily briefing.
“China expresses strong dissatisfaction and opposition.”
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Anthony Blinken met Xi Jinping in Beijing
President Biden, at the fundraiser on Tuesday, said that President Xi was embarrassed over the recent tensions surrounding the spy balloon that had been shot down by the air force over the east coast.
“That’s a great embarrassment for dictators. When they didn’t know what happened,” he said.
Ms Mao reiterated China’s contention that the balloon was intended for meteorological research and had been blown off course accidentally.
“The US should have handled it in a calm and professional manner,” she said.
“However, the US distorted facts and used forces to hype up the incident, fully revealing its nature of bullying and hegemony.”
The balloon incident caused an international row and delayed Mr Blinken’s visit by several months.
Worsening relations? Biden and Xi pictured when they met in November 2022
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Taiwan claims China getting ready to ‘launch war’
In recent days, the US says Chinese warplanes and naval ships have maneuvered in threatening ways to their American counterparts in the Taiwan Strait and South China Sea, despite agreements between them on protocols for avoiding such incidents.
After meeting with President Xi on Monday, Mr Blinken acknowledged entrenched differences.
“We have no illusions about the challenges of managing this relationship. There are many issues on which we profoundly, even vehemently, disagree,” he said.
DHL Express is suspending some shipments to the US as Donald Trump’s new tariff regime takes effect.
From 21 April, shipments worth more than $800 (£603) to US consumers from “any origin” will be temporarily suspended.
New rules that came into effect at the start of April made such shipments subject to increased customs checks.
“This change has caused a surge in formal customs clearances, which we are handling around the clock,” said the parcel delivery service.
Shipments going from business to business worth more than $800 aren’t affected by the suspension, but DHL warned they may also face delays.
Shipments under $800 to either businesses or consumers are not impacted, but one British cycle manufacturer suggested its US customers may need to split orders over $800 into “smaller shipments” to avoid the red tape.
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Trump: Tariffs are making US ‘rich’
Trump targeting ‘deceptive’ practices
From May, shipments from China and Hong Kong that are worth less than $800 “will be subject to all applicable duties”, according to the White House.
“President Trump is targeting deceptive shipping practices by Chinese-based shippers, many of whom hide illicit substances, including synthetic opioids, in low-value packages,” it said in a statement.
Until now, deliveries worth less than $800 didn’t incur any duties, which allowed low-cost companies Chinese like Shein and Temu to make inroads in the US.
Both have warned their prices will now rise because of the rule changes, starting on 25 April.
Anti-Trump protests took place across America on Saturday, with demonstrators decrying the administration’s immigration crackdown and mass firings at government agencies.
Events ranged from small local marches to a rally in front of the White House and a demonstration at a Massachusetts commemoration of the start of the Revolutionary War 250 years ago.
Thomas Bassford, 80, was at the battle reenactment with his two grandsons, as well as his partner and daughter.
He said: “This is a very perilous time in America for liberty. I wanted the boys to learn about the origins of this country and that sometimes we have to fight for freedom.”
At events across the country, people carried banners with slogans including “Trump fascist regime must go now!”, “No fear, no hate, no ICE in our state,” and “Fight fiercely, Harvard, fight,” referencing the university’s recent refusal to hand over much of its control to the government.
Some signs name-checked Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadorian citizen living in Maryland, who the Justice Department admits was mistakenly deported to his home country.
Read more: Donald Trump’s deportations explained
Pic: AP
People waved US flags, some of them held upside down to signal distress. In San Francisco, hundreds of people spelt out “Impeach & Remove” on a beach, also with an inverted US flag.
People walked through downtown Anchorage in Alaska with handmade signs listing reasons why they were demonstrating, including one that read: “No sign is BIG enough to list ALL of the reasons I’m here!”
Pic: AP
Protests also took place outside Tesla car dealerships against the role Elon Musk ahas played in downsizing the federal government as de facto head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
The protests come just two weeks after similar nationwide demonstrations.
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Organisers are opposing what they call Mr Trump’s civil rights violations and constitutional violations, including efforts to deport scores of immigrants and to scale back the federal government by firing thousands of government workers and effectively shuttering entire agencies.
The Trump administration, among other things, has moved to shutter Social Security Administration field offices, cut funding for government health programs and scale back protections for transgender people.
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