• I understand it to be geopolitically significant. Biden, head of state for a big country. Xi, head of state for another big country. China’s made it known they don’t want Xi called a dictator. Biden’s done it anyway.

      It’s the scale of the thing that matters here. It’s a political statement of gravity. He’s calling any bluff they’ve got going, and demonstrating that the USA doesn’t respect China enough to use their preferred nomenclature. It’s a calculated insult and a challenge.

    • Despite the fact that China is one of the world’s most effective democracies – this label from Biden is bad for international relations and peace. The Cold War is in full effect, and it heating up to armed conflict is seeming more likely over the next decade.

        • No… Xi was a member of the CPC in his village since young, elections are taken place at different levels, from towns to municipalities and so on, until you get to the National People’s Congress where there members elect a president.

          For the first level, the NPC elects the head of State and the heads of the judicial organs, i.e., the President of the State, the President of the Supreme People’s Court, the Procurator-General of the Supreme People’s Procuratorate and the Director of the National Supervisory Commission, and, upon nomination by the President, decide on the leaders of the central administrative organs, namely, the Premier of the State Council. (Article 62 of the Constitution)

          For the second level, the people’s congresses of provinces shall elect the heads of the administrative and judicial organs at the provincial level, namely, the governors of the provinces or municipalities directly under the Central Government, presidents of high people’s courts, chief procurators of the procuratorates at the provincial level and directors of the supervision committees at the same level. (Articles 8 and 44 of Local Organization Law)

          For the third level, the municipal people’s congress shall elect the leaders of the municipal organs, institutions, and judicial organs, namely the mayor, presidents of intermediate people’s courts, chief procurators of the municipal procuratorate, and directors of the supervisory committee at the same level.

          For the fourth level, the people’s congresses of districts and counties shall elect the responsible persons of administrative organs and judicial organs at the district/county level, namely, the heads of the district/county, presidents of primary people’s courts, chief procurators of procuratorates at the district/county level, and directors of supervisory committees at the same level.

          For the fifth level, the people’s congress of townships and towns shall elect the heads of the administrative organs and institution at the same levels, namely, the heads of townships/towns. There are no judicial organs in towns and townships, only agencies dispatched by judicial organs at the district/county level.

          Source.

          He exerts as much power as any other president, or less, he can’t do whatever he wants, there are democratic processes involved to take decisions…

          • I appreciate the source and will read it further. That being said, you didn’t address the somewhat recent removal of the 1990s second term limit rule. Without a limit the communist party will be unable to elect another leader to that office until Xi steps down or dies. As most see it, this would make him more in line with a dictator than an elected leader.

            https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-43361276

              • Democracy is broadly rule by the people. A leader for life without a mechanism for removal is one of many signs of a government that is not ruled by the people systemically. A benevolent dictator may rule in-line with the majority but should they not, the people have no ability to address it and make change at that level.

                Further, no one has addressed the initial points made. Xi removed the ability for the people he rules over to hold him accountable. This is one of many indicators of an autocrat or one who is moving toward being an autocrat in full.

      • Nazi Germany was inspired by a lot of things, but absolutely the most came from Faschism, invented by Italian leader Benito Mussolini.

        The USA couldn’t have been fachist at that time even if they wanted to.

        • I think that is not nice way to communicate with people.

          They have their opinion and they shared it, it is not rare to be person in current era angry at US and The Global West.

          For some people being pro-China or pro-Russia actually means being against US or against NATO, which can be understandable for some parts of the world that were under attack from them in last few decades.

          Ask them what happened to them and why they think like they do, maybe we can learn something new.