Diplomatic tensions between China and Germany: Beijing denounces “a provocation” after Annalena Baerbock described Xi Jinping as a “dictator”

China denounced on Monday as a “political provocation” the statements made by the German Minister of Foreign Affairs, Annalena Baerbock, who described Chinese President Xi Jinping as a “dictator” in an interview with Fox News last week, reports AFP.

“These comments are extremely absurd and constitute a serious insult to China’s political dignity as well as an open political provocation,” said Mao Ning, spokeswoman for China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, during a daily press conference.

She added that Beijing had taken “official steps with the German side through diplomatic channels,” without elaborating.

Berlin announced on Monday that the German ambassador in Beijing was summoned to the Chinese Foreign Ministry in connection with the statements made by the head of German diplomacy Annalena Baerbock.

This summons took place on Sunday, a spokesman for the German MAE also stated.

The claims that angered Beijing

Annalena Baerbock used the term “dictator” in an interview with Fox News on September 14 during a visit to the US.

Referring to Russia’s war against Ukraine, Germany’s head of diplomacy, from the Green party, said: “If Putin wins this war, what signal would that send to other dictators in the world, like Xi, like the Chinese president? That is why Ukraine must win this war”.

Asked about this on Monday, a spokesman for German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said the way China is governed, through a “one-party” system, does not correspond to “our democratic ideas”. However, he did not take up the term “dictator” used by Annalena Baerbock.