That’s what’s a great embarrassment for dictators, when they didn’t know what happened,” Biden told attendees at the fundraiser in the Bay Area, referring to the Chinese spy balloon that the US shot down earlier this year. “He called me and told me not to do that because it was putting him in a bind,” Biden said, referring to the Chinese president. The region has taken on a greater importance for Washington as China has become increasingly assertive over its territorial claims in the area, expands its naval capabilities and militarizes islands in the South China Sea. “Now we have India, Australia, Japan and the United States working hand in glove in the South China Sea, in the Indian Ocean. We have a situation where I’ve met with all 50 of the major maritime states in East Asia,” Biden said in California.

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Persons: Joe Biden, Xi Jinping, ”, Antony Blinken, what’s, ” Biden, Biden, Blinken’s, “, John Kerry, Blinken –, Xi, “ We’re, ” Blinken, I’ve Organizations: San Francisco , CA CNN, CNN, House, Japan –, South Pacific Locations: San Francisco , CA, California, Washington, Beijing, Bay, China, United States, India, Australia, Japan, South, South China, East Asia