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China has lashed out at Germany after its foreign minister called Xi Jinping a \u201cdictator\u201d and summoned Berlin\u2019s ambassador for a dressing down, in the latest flaring of tensions with a western democratic power over how the Chinese leader is described overseas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock made the remarks in an interview with Fox News<\/a> during a visit to the United States last week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When asked about Russia\u2019s war on Ukraine, she said: \u201cIf Putin were to win this war, what sign would that be for other dictators in the world, like Xi, like the Chinese president?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Chinese government on Sunday summoned Germany\u2019s ambassador to China, Patricia Flor, to protest Baerbock\u2019s comments, a German foreign ministry spokesperson told CNN Monday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n China\u2019s Foreign Ministry said Beijing was \u201cstrongly dissatisfied\u201d with Baerbock\u2019s comments and \u201cfirmly opposes\u201d them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe remarks made by Germany are extremely absurd, seriously infringe on China\u2019s political dignity, and are an open political provocation,\u201d Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said at a regular news briefing on Monday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The question about Baerbock\u2019s remarks and Mao\u2019s response are both missing from the briefing\u2019s official transcript<\/a> posted later on the ministry\u2019s website.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Chinese Foreign Ministry often leaves out content it deems sensitive from the transcripts of its regular briefings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It is not the first time China has shown sensitivity towards how foreign leaders refer to Xi \u2013 China\u2019s most assertive leader in a generation who has heavily centralized power and is nearly a year into his norm-busting third five-year term.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In June, US President Joe Biden also referred to Xi as a \u201cdictator,\u201d<\/a> sparking a fierce backlash from Beijing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At the time, China\u2019s Foreign Ministry bristled at Biden\u2019s comments, saying they \u201cseriously contradict basic facts and seriously violate diplomatic etiquette.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n