US Secretary of State Antony Blinken drew attention when he visibly reacted during a news conference after President Joe Biden referred to Chinese President Xi Jinping as a “dictator.”
The incident occurred after the two leaders held a four-hour meeting on November 15 in San Francisco.
When asked about his previous characterization of Xi as a dictator, Biden reiterated that Xi is a leader of a communist country and, in that sense, can be considered a dictator.
Blinken was captured on video flinching and appearing concerned as Biden made the statement.
The remark by Biden sparked a response from China’s foreign ministry, which stated that it “strongly opposes” the remarks, labeling them as “extremely wrong and irresponsible political manipulation.”
The exchange took place following the first in-person meeting between Biden and Xi. The incident quickly circulated on social media, drawing attention to Blinken’s visible reaction and the diplomatic tensions between the two countries.
ADB Approves $250 Million For Power Transmission Boost In Punjab And KP
Meanwhile, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) has given the green light for a $250 million financial loan to enhance power transmission infrastructure in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces.
Under the ADB’s Power Transmission Strengthening Project, the aim is to improve the reliability of electricity delivery by expanding the high-voltage transmission network.
The project will particularly concentrate on integrating 500-kilovolt (kV) and 220 kV transmission line loops. Additionally, it seeks to reduce transmission losses in Lahore, Punjab, through the replacement of outdated transmission lines.
This initiative aligns with ADB’s ongoing collaboration with the National Transmission & Despatch Company Limited (NTDC) and contributes to strengthening energy security, fostering climate resilience, and boosting transmission capacity to facilitate the deployment of sufficient, reliable, clean, and cost-effective energy.
