China is firmly denying any role in influencing American elections, responding sharply on Friday to President Donald Trump’s renewed claims that Beijing meddled in the 2020 presidential race.
During a national address on Thursday, Trump once again cast doubt on the outcome of the 2020 election and pointed the finger at China as a foreign actor who interfered in the process.
China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian fired back at those allegations during a daily press briefing in Beijing. “The relevant allegations by the U.S. are entirely fabricated and aimed at vilifying China,” Lin stated. “We have no interest in interfering in US elections and have never done so.”
Lin went further, calling on Washington to stop directing what he characterized as unfounded accusations toward China.
When a reporter asked whether Trump’s comments could jeopardize an expected trip by Chinese President Xi Jinping to the United States in September, the spokesperson did not directly answer but said: “As I just said, we urge the U.S. to stop making an issue of China in its elections and do something conducive to China-U.S. relations.”
The exchange comes after Trump traveled to Beijing in mid-May and held talks with Xi. Following that meeting, both governments announced they would work within a new framework to guide their relationship going forward. Trump extended an invitation for Xi to visit the U.S. in September, and Beijing has confirmed that Xi accepted.
