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Trump accuses China of election 'meddling' against him Trump accuses China of election 'meddling' against him
(about 1 hour later)
China is attempting to "meddle" in the forthcoming US mid-term elections, President Donald Trump told world leaders during a UN meeting.China is attempting to "meddle" in the forthcoming US mid-term elections, President Donald Trump told world leaders during a UN meeting.
"They don't want me or us to win because I am the first president to ever challenge China on trade," Mr Trump said on Wednesday."They don't want me or us to win because I am the first president to ever challenge China on trade," Mr Trump said on Wednesday.
Mr Trump did not offer proof for his claim. China and the US have been in a battle over tariffs since his election.Mr Trump did not offer proof for his claim. China and the US have been in a battle over tariffs since his election.
China's foreign minister denounced the "unwarranted accusation".China's foreign minister denounced the "unwarranted accusation".
The US congressional mid-terms are due to be held on 6 November.The US congressional mid-terms are due to be held on 6 November.
"In my remarks yesterday to the United Nations General Assembly, I laid out my administration's commitment to building a more just and peaceful future," Mr Trump said, as he opened a meeting of the UN Security Council in New York. What did Trump say?
"Regrettably, we found that China has been attempting to interfere in our upcoming 2018 election, coming up in November, against my administration. Opening the UN Security Council meeting in New York, which was held to discuss countering nuclear, chemical and biological weapons, Mr Trump accused China of trying to interfere, without providing specific evidence.
"Regrettably, we found that China has been attempting to interfere in our upcoming 2018 election, coming up in November, against my administration," he said.
"They do not want me or us to win because I am the first president ever to challenge China on trade. And we are winning on trade, we are winning at every level."They do not want me or us to win because I am the first president ever to challenge China on trade. And we are winning on trade, we are winning at every level.
"We don't want them to meddle or interfere in our upcoming election.""We don't want them to meddle or interfere in our upcoming election."
The meeting, which Mr Trump chaired, was held to discuss countering nuclear, chemical and biological weapons.
In response, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told the council that "China has all along followed the principle of non-interference in other countries' domestic affairs."In response, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told the council that "China has all along followed the principle of non-interference in other countries' domestic affairs."
"This is a tradition of Chinese foreign policy.""This is a tradition of Chinese foreign policy."
He continued: "We did not and will not interfere in any countries' domestic affairs. We refuse to accept any unwarranted accusations against China."He continued: "We did not and will not interfere in any countries' domestic affairs. We refuse to accept any unwarranted accusations against China."
Where did the comments come from?
It is not the first time someone in the Trump administration has commented on alleged Chinese election meddling.
In an interview last month, US National Security Adviser John Bolton said Russia, North Korea, Iran, and China are all potentially planning to meddle in US elections.In an interview last month, US National Security Adviser John Bolton said Russia, North Korea, Iran, and China are all potentially planning to meddle in US elections.
"I can say definitively that it's a sufficient national security concern about Chinese meddling, Iranian meddling and North Korean meddling that we're taking steps to try to prevent it, so it's all four of those countries, really," Mr Bolton told ABC News."I can say definitively that it's a sufficient national security concern about Chinese meddling, Iranian meddling and North Korean meddling that we're taking steps to try to prevent it, so it's all four of those countries, really," Mr Bolton told ABC News.
On Tuesday Dan Coats, the US Director of National Intelligence, warned a cyber conference about China's online activities, and described Chinese President Xi Jinping has been "among the most active foreign states conducting cyber activities against United States interests".
"The Chinese government uses all of the capabilities at their disposal to influence US policies, spread propaganda, manipulate the media and pressure individuals, including students, critical of Chinese policies," he said.
Mr Trump has himself previously claimed on his Twitter feed that China "are actively trying to impact and change our election by attacking our farmers, ranchers and industrial workers because of their loyalty to me".Mr Trump has himself previously claimed on his Twitter feed that China "are actively trying to impact and change our election by attacking our farmers, ranchers and industrial workers because of their loyalty to me".
"China has been taking advantage of the United States on Trade for many years. They also know that I am the one that knows how to stop it," Mr Trump tweeted on 26 September. "China has been taking advantage of the United States on trade for many years. They also know that I am the one that knows how to stop it," Mr Trump tweeted on 26 September.
US intelligence agencies have concluded that Russia sought to interfere in the 2016 presidential election in order to help Mr Trump's campaign. How are US-China relations?
Mr Trump has repeatedly downplayed the findings of his own security agencies. The US president has been in an escalating trade dispute with China in recent months.
Earlier this month, Mr Trump directed officials to impose tariffs on $200bn (£151bn) in Chinese goods, escalating a dispute over what the US says are China's unfair trade practices, such as state subsidies. Earlier in September, Mr Trump directed officials to impose tariffs on $200bn (£151bn) in Chinese goods - the latest move to combat what the US says are China's unfair trade practices, such as state subsidies.
The new duties would add to tariffs the US has already imposed on $50bn in Chinese goods as part of that dispute, as well as tariffs that China levied on $50bn in US goods in retaliation.The new duties would add to tariffs the US has already imposed on $50bn in Chinese goods as part of that dispute, as well as tariffs that China levied on $50bn in US goods in retaliation.
In July, the Trump administration introduced a $12bn (£9.1bn) bailout plan to help farmers whose businesses have hurt by China adding reciprocal levies on products like soybeans.
Military relations have also taken a turn after Washington slapped sanctions on the Chinese military for buying weapons equipment from Russia, as punishment for the country's "malign activities".
US intelligence agencies have concluded that Russia sought to interfere in the 2016 presidential election in order to help Mr Trump's campaign.
In response, Beijing recalled a navy chief from a visit to the US and postponed military talks.
They also blocked a US Navy ship from docking in Hong Kong.