'Absurd': China protests Germany calling Xi 'dictator'

ISTANBUL

China on Monday condemned Germany for calling Chinese President Xi Jinping a “dictator,” calling it “absurd.”

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said: “China strongly disapproves of and firmly opposes the remarks made by the German foreign minister regarding Chinese leader,” Beijing-based Global Times reported.

“The remarks made by the German side were utterly absurd. Such comments gravely infringe upon China's political dignity and amount to an open political provocation,” she said at a news conference in Beijing.

She added: “China has lodged a serious representation with Germany through diplomatic channels.”

Last week, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said in an interview: "If (Russian President Vladimir) Putin were to win this war, what sign would that be for other dictators in the world, like Xi (Jinping) like the Chinese president?"