China pushed back Friday against President Donald Trump's claim that Beijing interfered in the 2020 U.S. presidential election, calling the allegations fabricated and demanding that Washington stop repeating them.
In an address to the nation Thursday, Trump again raised doubts about the 2020 election results and accused China of meddling in them. According to ABC News, China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian responded directly at a daily briefing in Beijing.
"The relevant allegations by the U.S. are entirely fabricated and aimed at vilifying China," Lin said. "We have no interest in interfering in US elections and have never done so."
Al Jazeera reported that China described the claims as "malicious smears" and "groundless allegations." Lin called on the U.S. to stop making what he characterized as groundless accusations against China.
A reporter at the briefing asked whether Trump's comments might affect a planned visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping to the United States in September. Lin's response was pointed. "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," he said.
Trump visited Beijing in mid-May and met with Xi. Both governments said they would adopt a new framework to manage relations between the two countries. Trump invited Xi to visit the United States in September, and Beijing confirmed Xi accepted the invitation.
The New York Times reported that Trump overstated election vulnerabilities in the primetime speech and made several exaggerated claims. The address covered multiple topics, with the China interference claim drawing some of the sharpest international reaction.
The exchange lands at a complicated moment in U.S.-China relations. The two sides had appeared to be working toward a more stable footing following the May summit. Whether the September visit proceeds as planned remains an open question.
