Secretary of State Antony Brinken rushed out of a press conference at the White House on Thursday night after one of the reporters yelled questions about his recent visit to China.
The Brinkens attended a state dinner with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday. Blinken is documented walking into the frame arm in arm with his wife, Evan Ryan. A reporter yelled questions about China as the two stopped for a photo. The Secretary of State quickly turned his back, waved at the reporters, and hurried to the entrance to the dinner hall. (Related: Xi’s visit to Blinken gives Russia ‘confidence’ in relations with China)
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#clock | US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken arrives at the White House for the state dinner. pic.twitter.com/Pdq3AhE2RM
— Ani (@ANI) June 22, 2023
Blinken met with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday in a bid to mend the deteriorating relationship between the United States and China. The same day, the secretary of state told reporters that the United States “does not support” Taiwan’s independence, prompting a backlash. Mr. Blinken’s remarks were criticized by many for making the United States look weak against its greatest foreign enemies.
“The Biden administration is desperate and desperate,” said Morgan Ortagus, a former State Department spokesman for the Trump administration. told Fox News. “They want to talk more than China does, and China knows that. That’s why they moan at us. It’s a shame.”
‘Weakness breeds aggression,’ says Republican Indiana Rep. Jim Banks tweeted.
“Appealing to universal rationality is a futile effort. The CCP only respects power.” tweeted Michael Sobolik, Senior Fellow, US Foreign Policy Council.
“Mr. Blinken flew to Communist China to appease Mr. Xi Jinping, saying that the Biden administration does not support Taiwan independence. tweeted Republican Tennessee Representative Marsha Blackburn.
President Biden called On Thursday, Xi Jinping will become a “dictator” and could undermine Brinken’s efforts.
But Biden has expressed some things optimism On potential US-China relations.
Biden told reporters, “I’ve been saying all along that the hysteria about our relationship with China is crumbling, moving, and so on. You can say that,” he said.
“But Secretary Brinken’s visit to China has been great. I plan to meet with President Xi in the near future,” Biden added.