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Secretary of State Antony Blinken is facing criticism for statements on Washington’s soft diplomatic strategy with China. Despite the ongoing opioid crisis, Blinken defended China, saying Chinese chemicals used to make fentanyl have only been sent to Mexico by accident.

Blinken later admitted that China has stopped cooperating over the last few years. Blinken avoided saying whether or not he believed fentanyl shipments from China were intentional.

The comments come as just Tuesday President Joe Biden criticized Chinese leader Xi Jinping as a dictator. Biden said that the shooting down of a Chinese spy balloon earlier this year embarrassed President Xi, who allegedly was not aware the spy balloon was in the United States. Biden said “that’s a great embarrassment for dictators. When they didn’t know what happened.”