“China Is by No Means a Communist Country”: Secretary of State Visibly Cringes as Biden Ruins Diplomacy Efforts With One Word

Michelle MeyerNov 23, 2023

Minute Read

President Biden’s recent comment labeling China’s President Xi Jinping as a “dictator” has not only stirred diplomatic tensions but has also put Secretary of State Antony Blinken in an uncomfortable position.

Biden’s Verbal Misstep

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During a news conference, a reporter questioned Biden about a time he previously called President Xi a “dictator.” In response, the POTUS reiterated his stance. “Look, he is. He’s a dictator in the sense that he’s a guy who runs a country that is a communist country that’s based on a form of government totally different than ours,” he said. His remark visibly affected Blinken, who seemingly struggled to maintain composure.

Antony Blinken’s Reaction

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A video capturing a close-up of Blinken’s face made its way around the internet, conveying his obvious discomfort and displeasure. He shifted in his chair and nervously clasped his hands together in a way that really highlighted the seriousness of the situation and the potential effects on years of diplomatic work.

A More Tactful Approach

The gaffe happened after Biden’s four-hour meeting with President Xi. While the meeting aimed to strengthen positive relations between the United States and China, Biden’s shock remark undoubtedly endangered the efforts and emphasized the need for a more tactful approach.

An Age Concern

The incident has raised questions about Biden’s suitability for delicate diplomatic tasks. Moreover, the president’s tendency to speak candidly – even when it risks worsening international relations – plays into concerns about his age.

The Administration’s Diplomatic Missteps

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Given China’s formidable economic power and its increasing alignment with Russia, the stakes are high. Biden’s apparent inability to refrain from provocative statements adds a whole new layer of uncertainty to an already delicate global landscape, leaving Blinken to bear the visible weight of the administration’s diplomatic missteps.

The Internet’s Response

News of the gaffe and Blinken’s reaction was shared across the internet and people flocked to comment sections to give their views on the matter. For the most part, and regardless of their political affiliation, commenters were critical of Biden’s lack of tact.

Blown Out of Proportion

On the other hand, some people applauded the president for his honesty. Others sympathized with Blinken and many said that his job might be one of the hardest in the country. One individual claimed that the latter’s reaction was being blown out of proportion.

A Disaster on Foreign Policy

One social media user criticized Democrat voters as a group, implying that they should’ve looked closer at Biden’s history before casting their votes in the previous election. “Biden was a disaster on foreign policy under Obama and was reprimanded several times. I guess Democrat voters didn’t take notice,” they wrote.

A Sign of Dementia

Quite a few people expressed concerns about Biden’s age and mental acuity. One such individual said: “By now, Blinken knows that Joey has no filters. That is one of the signs of dementia. Add to that – Joey has never been the sharpest tool in the shed.”

Trumpers Never Sleep

Others defended Biden’s words: “An honest answer, telling Xi we know exactly who he is. Yet, they’ll play it as something else. Trumpers never sleep, never stop. Whatever Biden does must be interpreted to be bad. Trump demands it! Know these fools for what they are.”

Not in Any Meaningful Way Communist

One person addressed Biden’s claim about China being a “communist country.” They wrote: “[Xi] is definitely a dictator and China is authoritarian but if you know anything about communism from a theory standpoint it’s very clear China is not in any meaningful way communist. They do have a lot of red flags though.”

Calling Out Exploitative Behavior

Echoing the aforementioned commenter, another person wrote: “China is by no means a communist country but Biden is absolutely correct in being critical of the leadership and exploitative ‘dictator-like’ behavior.”

Biden Told the Truth

Evidently feeling sorry for Blinken, another individual said: “Have you ever watched someone make your job ten times harder in real-time? That’s what’s happening here. Biden told the truth and Blinken gets to handle the diplomatic blowback. Poor guy.”

Good on Biden

One person was rather unimpressed by Blinken’s reaction: “I hate all these diplomats who suck up to China. There are already enough people online who downplay everything going on in China and spread obvious propaganda. People need to be more honest about the situation in general. I don’t like Biden that much but good on him for calling it as it is.”

A Complete Political Failure

Others feared the 2024 presidential election results: “Biden is such a complete political failure. He is going to lose in 2024 and it is going to be another four years of Trump because Democrats cannot nominate candidates that people want to vote for.”

A Lose-Lose Situation

Some people felt that Biden would have been criticized regardless of how he answered the question: “Biden is screwed either way. He either tells the truth and answers honestly and gets shredded for not helping the relations of the two countries or he gets ripped apart for sucking up to a dictator and looking weak.”

A Lack of Manners

International commenters criticized Biden’s approach: “I tell you, Americans have no manners. You invite someone to your country under the spirit of cooperation. You owe this person $859 billion. They say nothing bad to you or about you in their speech. Then, in your speech, it’s just nonstop slams of your guest.”

Trump and COVID

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Others downplayed Blinken’s reaction: “Blinken always looks like he is wincing. If you want to see staff wincing, take a look at the doctors’ faces in the background of the press conferences Trump had during COVID when he said to use bleach to cure COVID. They could not sink lower in their chairs.”