China mocks 'powerless' Joe after his apology for US pulling out of Paris Accords: State-run newspaper says they can't wait for 'Trump to say sorry for Biden in 2024'
President Joe Biden was mocked by Chinese state media after apologizing Monday for the United States' withdrawal from the Paris climate change agreement, with his actions derided as 'hypocritical and powerless' and China ridiculing his inability to make even Democrats agree to his climate change plan.
Biden told the opening day of COP26, the climate change summit in Glasgow, that he regretted former President Donald Trump's decision.
'I guess I shouldn't apologize, but I do apologize for the fact the United States, in the last administration, pulled out of the Paris Accords and put us sort of behind the eight ball a little bit,' Biden said Monday.
'That was the first thing I did when elected.'
Joe Biden is seen addressing the COP26 summit in Glasgow. The president on the first day of the gathering apologized for Donald Trump withdrawing the U.S. from the Paris accord
Xi Jinping, the Chinese president, is pictured on October 31. He declined to attend the summit
China on Tuesday laughed at the president's apology, describing it was weak and irrelevant.
'Unlike what Biden may have expected, the apology triggered ridicule,' Ai Jun wrote in an op-ed for the state-owned Global Times.
'Quite a few netizens, including those from the U.S., claimed they cannot wait until 2024 when the Republican Party, or even Donald Trump himself, apologizes for Biden's apology.
'Most people believe this was hardly an apology, but a slap in the face of his predecessor, a move to pin all the blame on Trump.'
The author described the issue of climate change as 'highly polarizing' in the U.S., and said that many Republicans such as Trump believe it is a hoax.
The paper also ridiculed Biden for turning up to a climate change conference with a huge motorcade.
'If there is anything that Biden did bring to Europe, it must be a massive 85-car and gas-guzzling motorcade,' the author wrote.
'Other than that, Biden can only make empty promises at COP26.'
President Biden's motorcade burned through the Central Belt of Scotland from Edinburgh Airport to Glasgow on Monday
It comprised more than 20 vehicles - plus police outriders - but was modest compared with the 85 vehicles he used in Rome
Biden's six-day trip to Europe will release an estimated two million pounds of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere
Biden's inability to win over even Democrats to back his proposals was laughed at by the author.
'His apology does not make any sense, as he has no plan to fulfill his promises and no guarantee to make sure that his commitment won't be toppled by the next administration.
'Worse, he cannot even win enough support from his own party to get a green light for his plan.'
The author quoted Xu Liang, an associate professor at the School of International Relations of the Beijing International Studies University, as arguing 'that the declining US is trapped in a predicament where the best option is to apologize.'
Biden was described as 'disappointing his people', in particular with his handling of the COVID pandemic, which the paper said was little better than his predecessor's.
'If Biden could bring his diplomatic skills into full play and be more courageous, like lowering some tariffs imposed on China, he may confront huge pressure temporarily,' Ai wrote.
'One thing is certain - political infighting will continue, which is exhausting US strength in dealing with domestic and global issues.
'There will be more apologies from US politicians, and there will be more kneeling down.'
China's president, Xi Jinping, declined to attend the summit, as did Russian leader Vladimir Putin.
Chinese tourists wear masks as protection from the pollution outside the Forbidden City in December 2015
A Chinese woman wears a mask and filter as she walks to work during heavy pollution on December 9, 2015 in Beijing
China is the world's biggest emitter of carbon dioxide and has pledged to begin reducing that output by 2030 and obtaining carbon neutrality by 2060.
The U.S. and others have urged Beijing to make bigger commitments, but Xi's administration has strongly implied those will only come in exchange for political concessions.
Trump could resist responding to Biden's dig at his policy, and mocked his 78-year-old successor for briefly dozing off on Monday before his speech.
'Even Biden couldn't stand hearing so much about the Global Warming Hoax, the 7th biggest Hoax in America,' Trump joked in an email, after seeing pictures of the snoozing Biden.
'...followed closely behind by the 2020 Presidential Election Scam, Russia, Russia, Russia, Ukraine, Ukraine, Ukraine, Impeachment Hoax #1, Impeachment Hoax #2 and, of course, the "No Collusion" finding of the Mueller Report,' Trump added.
'Biden went to Europe saying Global Warming is his highest priority, and then promptly fell asleep, for all the world to see, at the Conference itself.
'Nobody that has true enthusiasm and belief in a subject will ever fall asleep!'
The president looked to be dozing off as one speaker underscored the importance of taking action to save the climate
Trump, 75, bashed into President Biden for falling asleep at the COP26 international climate change conference, suggesting that his successor doesn't truly care about the issue, which he refers to as a 'hoax'. Pictured: Former first lady and president of the US Melania (left) and Donald Trump look on prior to the Game Four of the World Series between the Houston Astros and the Atlanta Braves on October 30, in Atlanta, Georgia
Biden, who is the oldest person to assume the presidency, was captured getting some shut-eye for the better part of half a minute while disability activist Eddie Ndopu underscored the importance of taking action to save the climate in a pre-recorded message.
He then opened his eyes and appeared to light up when an aide walked up to him to chat.
Soon after, Biden sat forward and rubbed his eyes as Italy's prime minister took the stage.
He opened his eyes and appeared to liven up when an aide walked up to him to chat
President Biden's whirlwind European tour appears to be catching up with him, as the 78-year-old was caught resting his eyes during the opening remarks of the COP26 climate conference in Glasgow
Later on, Biden himself took the stage as to deliver his own warning on the impending doom of climate change and wiped .
'Climate change is already ravaging the world,' he told a crowd at the United Nations climate summit.
'It's not hypothetical.'
The president called climate change 'the existential threat to human existence as we know it.'
'This is a decisive decade in which we have an opportunity to prove ourselves,' Biden continued.
'We can keep the goal of limiting global warming to just 1.5° C if we come together.
'We're still falling short. There's no more time to hang back or sit on the fence or argue amongst ourselves. This is a challenge of our collective lifetimes,' he said.
'Glasgow must be the kick-off of a decade of ambition & innovation to preserve our shared future.'
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