China hits out at German FM’s ‘dictator’ Xi comment

China yesterday lashed out against German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock for calling President Xi Jinping a "dictator", branding the comment "an open political provocation" that was "extremely absurd".

Beijing is Berlin's top trade partner but Germany published a new policy in July to contend with a more "assertive" China after months of wrangling within the government over its strategy.