China slams Biden over 'xenophobic' and 'cheating' claims
China has accused the United States of hypocrisy in response to accusations by American President Joe Biden that Beijing is "xenophobic" and "cheating" on trade.
In a speech on Wednesday to union members, Biden called for a hike in steel tariffs on China, accusing the country of cheating during an election campaign in the northeastern state of Pennsylvania.
"I would like to ask him: are you talking about China or the US itself?" Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian responded on Thursday when asked about the comments.
"They're not competing, they're cheating. They're cheating and we've seen the damage here in America," the 81-year-old Biden said to cheers at the headquarters of the United Steelworkers union in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania.
"They're xenophobic..they've got real problems," he added.
Biden also claimed that Chinese steel companies are heavily subsidized by the government and hence “don’t need to worry about making a profit.”
Biden said he had called for the US trade representative to triple the tariff rates for Chinese steel and aluminum if Beijing was confirmed to be using anti-competitive practices.
Earlier this week the United States announced a probe into China’s trade practices in the shipbuilding, maritime, and logistics sectors alleging that Beijing used “unfair, non-market policies and practices” to dominate these sectors.
China has “firmly opposed” the probe, calling the move a “mistake on top of a mistake.”
Beijing and Washington have clashed in recent years on flash point issues ranging from technology, trade, and human rights to Taiwan and the South China Sea.
US police enter Columbia University to clear pro-Palestinian protesters
US, foreign attorneys call on Biden to halt arms sales to Israel: Report
Yemen raps US for obstructing peace, blocking efforts to halt Gaza genocide
VIDEO | Taliban: No one allowed to use Afghanistan to attack other countries
1,000 Palestinian workers from Gaza 'missing' in occupied lands: NGOs
US police nab 300 pro-Palestine students in New York
Israel marshalling Pahlavi monarchists in pro-genocide demos in London
UN committed to peace ‘based on end to Israeli occupation’
Iran has right to respond to any Israeli aggression: UN envoy
VIDEO | Inside a nuclear reactor
Turkey to join South Africa’s genocide case against Israel at ICJ
This makes it easy to access the Press TV website
