Biden Calls China’s Xi a ‘Dictator’, Beijing Hits Back: US deliberately escalated situation around weather balloon

Beijing has pushed back against US President remarks, claiming that the statements are outright offensive.

On Wednesday, speaking at a regular press conference, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning described the remarks as “extremely absurd,” adding that they “seriously violated China’s political dignity.” She said that such statements also violate diplomatic etiquette and contradict basic facts.

“It is an open political provocation,” Mao stressed.

The spokeswoman also reiterated China’s position that the balloon – which Washington has insisted was seeking to surveil strategic sites in the continental United States – strayed into US airspace due to “force majeure factors.”

“The US side distorted the facts and abused force, fully reflecting the US’ bullying and hegemonic nature,” she said.

On June 18-19, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken was in China on a visit that was initially planned for February. That visit didn’t take place because of the Chinese balloon which was downed by a missile inside US airspace. Beijing points out that the balloon was a Chinese weather probe. According to the Washington administration, China was using it to gather important intelligence.