Title: China Outraged After Biden Calls Xi Jinping a “Dictator”
Introduction:
US President Joe Biden faced backlash from China after referring to Chinese President Xi Jinping as a “dictator.” This incident threatens the already fragile US-China relations, which had seen recent efforts to stabilize. Biden’s comments were made at a campaign fundraising event where he criticized Xi for being unaware of an alleged spy balloon that flew over the United States. China’s foreign ministry condemned Biden’s remarks as “extremely absurd and irresponsible” and accused him of violating diplomatic protocols and China’s political dignity.
Row over Biden’s “dictator” comment raises concerns about US-China relations:
Biden’s remark about Xi being a dictator has the potential to derail nascent efforts to stabilize US-China relations. While it may not result in a visible setback, it could damage ties between the two presidents, especially considering Biden’s previous comments regarding defense of Taiwan that have irritated Beijing. Experts are concerned about the impact of these remarks on the relationship between the two nations.
Key Events to Watch:
1. Narendra Modi’s visit to the United States: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address a joint session of Congress and attend a state banquet at the White House. US-India relations have strengthened due to defense and technology cooperation and their shared goal of countering China.
2. Chinese diplomacy: Premier Li Qiang will travel to France to attend a global finance summit hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron, following his visit to Germany.
3. South Korea’s entertainment wave: Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos will be in Seoul to discuss the streaming media company’s $2.5 billion investment in South Korean entertainment.
Other Top Stories:
1. US Federal Trade Commission sues Amazon: Amazon is accused of tricking customers into signing up for its Prime service without their consent and making it difficult to cancel subscriptions. This lawsuit is part of regulators’ crackdown on Big Tech companies’ anti-competitive practices.
2. Volkswagen plans independent audit of Xinjiang factory: VW intends to commission an independent audit of its factory in Xinjiang as discussions with its Chinese joint venture partner have been fruitful. The move comes after VW was accused of being linked to forced labor in Xinjiang in a formal complaint.
3. Search for missing submarine in North Atlantic: The search for a missing submarine focuses on underwater noises detected by sonar buoys in the area where the craft disappeared during an expedition to view the wreck of the RMS Titanic.
4. ByteDance sells products to UK TikTok users: ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok, has started selling products to UK users through a new feature called “Trendy Beat.” This push aligns with the company’s expansion into retail offerings, shipping items from China and selling them through a Singapore-registered company.
5. SoftBank to resume tech investments: SoftBank’s CEO Masayoshi Son announces a “counteroffensive” to resume the company’s investments in artificial intelligence after focusing on asset sales and cash grabbing for three years.
The Big Read – Discreet US Lobbying in Brazil’s Presidential Election:
During Brazil’s presidential election last October, incumbent Jair Bolsonaro contested the electoral process similar to Donald Trump. However, Bolsonaro accepted the victory of his opponent Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, partially due to a year-long lobbying campaign by the US government. The campaign played a role in ensuring the strength of Brazil’s institutions.
Chart of the Day: Rising Pasta Prices in Europe:
Pasta prices in Europe have continued to rise despite the decline in the cost of wheat, causing accusations of profiteering by European pasta producers. Consumers are questioning why they’re still paying high prices for pasta.
Additional Piece:
Title: Navigating the Fragile US-China Relationship: A Balancing Act for Global Powers
Introduction:
The recent spat between the US and China, triggered by President Joe Biden’s comments about Chinese President Xi Jinping, highlights the delicate nature of their relationship. As two global powers with significant economic and political influence, the dynamics between the US and China have far-reaching implications. Maintaining stability in this relationship is crucial for global stability, as their actions and decisions impact not only their own countries but also the rest of the world.
Managing Differences in the US-China Relationship:
1. Economic Interdependence: The US and China have deeply interconnected economies, with trade and investments playing a crucial role in their relationship. Balancing economic interests while addressing concerns like intellectual property theft and unfair trade practices is essential to prevent further strain on the relationship.
2. Strategic Rivalry: The US and China are engaged in a strategic competition for influence and dominance in various regions, including the Asia-Pacific. Managing this rivalry requires careful diplomacy and engaging in constructive dialogue to prevent escalations and maintain stability in the region.
3. Human Rights and Democracy Concerns: The US has often criticized China’s human rights record and lack of political freedoms. Balancing the promotion of human rights and democratic values while maintaining productive engagement with China is a challenge that requires tact and strategic diplomacy.
4. Global Challenges: Climate change, cybersecurity, and public health emergencies are global challenges that require collaboration between the US and China. Finding common ground and mutually beneficial solutions is vital for addressing these issues effectively and highlighting areas of cooperation.
Conclusion:
The US-China relationship is complex and shaped by a range of factors, including economic, strategic, and ideological considerations. While moments of tension and disagreement are inevitable, it is crucial for both countries to find common ground and seek constructive engagement. Navigating this delicate relationship requires strategic leadership, diplomatic finesse, and a commitment to addressing concerns while promoting stability and cooperation. The world is watching closely as these two global powers determine the course of international relations in the 21st century.
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Good morning. China responded with outrage after US President Joe Biden called his counterpart Xi Jinping a “dictator” in a spat that threatens to undermine nascent efforts to stabilize US-China relations.
Biden said at a campaign fundraising event on Tuesday that Xi was unaware of an alleged spy balloon that flew over the United States this year. The incident sent bilateral ties plummeting to their lowest point in decades.
“This is a great embarrassment for dictators, when they didn’t know what happened,” the US president told about 130 supporters during a rally at a private home in California.
China’s foreign ministry described Biden’s remarks as “extremely absurd and irresponsible”, adding that they “grossly violate fundamental facts, diplomatic protocols and China’s political dignity”. He also described the US president’s comments at the fundraiser as “overt political provocations”.
His comments came the same week that Antony Blinken, the first US secretary of state to visit Beijing since 2018, met with Xi in a bid to mend ties.
Bonnie Glaser, a China expert at the German Marshall Fund, said that while the comments might not cause a “visible setback” in US-China relations, they could damage ties between presidents, particularly in the wake of the previous remarks by Biden on defense of Taiwan and other statements that annoyed Beijing.
Row over Biden’s “dictator” comment will derail efforts to stabilize US-China relations? Send your thoughts to benjamin.wilhelm@ft.com.
Here’s what I’m watching today:
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Narendra Modi’s visit to the United States: The Indian prime minister will address a joint session of Congress and attend a state banquet at the White House. US-India relations have deepened in recent years, secured by growing defense and technology cooperation and by the shared goal of countering China.
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Chinese diplomacy: After a visit to Germany, Chinese premier Li Qiang will be in France, where he plans to travel attend a global finance summit hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron. (Associated Press)
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South Korea’s entertainment wave: Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos visits Seoul to talk about the streaming media company Investment of 2.5 billion dollars in South Korean entertainment.
Five more top stories
1. The US Federal Trade Commission is suing Amazon, accusing it of tricking customers into signing up for its Prime service without their consent e “sabotage” attempts to cancel their subscriptions. The lawsuit is the latest by US regulators against Big Tech companies as they crack down on what they described as anti-competitive or anti-consumer business practices.
2. Volkswagen plans commission an independent audit of its factory in Xinjiang, such as discussions with its Chinese joint venture partner have become “fruitful”. The comments from VW chief executive Oliver Blume came after a non-profit organization on Tuesday accused VW of being linked to forced labor in Xinjiang in a formal complaint filed with German regulators.
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Related: Volkswagen, BMW and Mercedes have been accused of using forced labour in their Chinese supply chains, in one of the first cases subjected to the new German supply chain law.
3. The search for a missing submarine in the North Atlantic focuses on “underwater noises”, after sonar buoys detected sounds Tuesday night and Wednesday morning in the area where the craft disappeared during an expedition to view the wreck of the RMS Titanic. Read the latest on the search for the submarine with five passengers on board.
4. Beijing-based ByteDance sells products to UK TikTok users through a new feature on the viral video app called “Trendy Beat,” which advertises items that have proven popular in videos. Items are shipped from China and sold by a Singapore-registered company owned by ByteDance, part of the group’s push to expand its retail offerings. Learn more about the effort known internally as “Project S”.
5. SoftBank chief Masayoshi Son said the company will go on a “counteroffensive” after nearly three years of asset sales and cash grabbing to resume the tech group’s investments in artificial intelligence. Here’s more on investor comments from SoftBank’s billionaire founder.
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Related: Credit Suisse’s lawsuit against SoftBank was questioned following the bailout of the Swiss bank by rival UBS, which counts the Japanese conglomerate among its clients.
The big read
US President Joe Biden, left, and former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro © FT montage/AFP/Getty Images
During last October’s Brazilian presidential election, incumbent far-right Jair Bolsonaro attacked the electoral process in ways reminiscent of Donald Trump in the United States. In the end, he accepted the victory of his opponent Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, a testament to the strength of the country’s institutions. But it was also partly due to a discreet, little-known, year-long lobbying campaign by the US government.
We are also reading and listening. . .
Chart of the day
The rise in pasta prices is far outpacing wider inflation in parts of Europe and has continued despite a steep decline in the cost of the wheat used to make it. European pasta producers have been accused of profiteering and “greed” while buyers wonder why they’re still paying so much.
Take a break from the news
In the age of casual, the twins risk slipping into obscurity. Robert Armstrong of the FT makes the case bringing the twin backand offers tips for choosing the right one.
Montblanc Meisterstück Cufflinks, £230 © montblanc.com
Further contributions by Tee Zhuo e Gordon Smith
https://www.ft.com/content/fde39eaf-8c5f-49b6-8bc9-ddfafb90af9a
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