China on Friday dismissed fresh allegations by US President Donald Trump that Beijing interfered in US election data, describing the claims as “fabrications” and “malicious smears.”
The accusations came after Trump revived his long-standing, unsubstantiated assertions of voter fraud ahead of the US midterm elections, which many political observers believe he could challenge if the outcome is unfavourable.
Speaking during a White House address on Thursday, Trump argued that the US electoral system had been seriously compromised and called on lawmakers to introduce stricter voting measures.
However, the proposed restrictions have gained little support, including from members of his own Republican Party.
Trump also announced that he intended to declassify intelligence which he claimed would show that China had illegally obtained 220 million US voter files.
Responding to the allegations, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian firmly rejected the claims during a regular news briefing.
“The relevant claims made by the US side are pure fabrications and malicious smears that have long since been proven to be groundless statements,” Lin said.
He added, “China has… no interest in the US election and has never interfered in it.”
Lin further criticised Washington, saying, “The international community sees very clearly who it is that habitually interferes in the internal affairs of other countries.”
He also urged the United States to stop making China an issue in its domestic politics.
“We urge the US side to reflect on its own actions, stop baselessly smearing China, refrain from making an issue of China in its elections, and do more to benefit China-US relations,” he added.
Trump has repeatedly maintained that the 2020 US presidential election was “rigged,” although those claims have never been substantiated. More than 60 legal challenges failed to produce any ruling showing fraud significant enough to alter the election result, while recounts, audits and investigations by his own Justice Department found no evidence of widespread election fraud.
