Biden's "dictator" label for Xi strains US-China relations.

President Joe Biden's recent remarks calling Chinese leader Xi Jinping a "dictator" and China a country with "real economic difficulties" drew condemnation from China, cracking open a new rift just after the two countries agreed to tentative steps to stabilize the relationship. The clash of words comes after Secretary of State Antony Blinken concluded a visit to Beijing on Monday that sought to break the ice in a relationship that has hit a historical low. Despite the administration's diplomatic efforts to soothe relations, analysts point to the Republican political pressure, and note Biden regularly seems to go off-script to criticize Xi.