Blinken: China tried to interfere in US election

[New Sancai Compilation First Release] U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken revealed on April 26 that the United States has seen evidence that China is trying to "influence and possibly interfere" in the upcoming U.S. presidential election.

He made the remarks in an interview with CNN after concluding a three-day trip to China. Blinken met with senior Chinese officials, including President Xi Jinping, who previously promised President Joe Biden that China would not interfere in U.S. elections.

When Xi Jinping met with Biden in November 2023, he stated that China would not interfere in the 2024 US election. It was the first time Biden and Xi Jinping met in the past year when they attended the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in San Francisco.

Biden raised the issue of possible Chinese interference in U.S. elections. Xi Jinping said in a brief exchange that China would not interfere in the election. But Blinken, asked whether China had violated Xi's pledge, said: "Overall, we have seen evidence of attempts to influence and arguably interfere, and we want to make sure that is cut off as quickly as possible."

"We are looking very carefully at any Chinese interference in our elections, and that is completely unacceptable to us, so I want to make sure they hear that message again," Blinken said, adding that people are worried about China and Other countries have exploited existing social divisions in the United States in influence campaigns.

China has repeatedly insisted that it will not interfere in the US election, which is based on the principle of non-interference in other countries' internal affairs. However, China or actors perceived to be linked to Beijing have been accused of political interference in other countries.

Blinken, meanwhile, warned China that the U.S. could take further actions on top of existing pro-Russian sanctions. According to CNN, the United States said China's support allowed Russia to increase production of tanks, ammunition and armored vehicles and continue its war against Ukraine.

"What we're saying to China is: We're going to take the actions we've taken, and if we don't stop, we're going to have to take more actions, and you can expect other countries [to do the same] as well," Blinken said. "We expect them to take action, and if they don't take action, we will take action."

(Compiled by: Wang Jimin)

(Editor: Jiang Qiming)

(Source of the article: Compiled and published by New Sancai)