Pence to give details on ‘poll meddling’ by China in speech

Vice President Mike Pence will accuse China of meddling in the 2018 US elections through a campaign of propaganda, spies, tariffs and coercive measures, according to excerpts of a speech he is scheduled to give on Thursday.

“Beijing has mobilised covert actors, front groups, and propaganda outlets to shift Americans’ perception of Chinese policies,” Pence will say in a speech at the Hudson Institute in Washington, according to prepared remarks. “As a senior career member of our intelligence community recently told me, what the Russians are doing pales in comparison” to China’s actions.

Pence’s speech is scheduled to take place just over a week after President Donald Trump accused China of attempting to meddle in the 2018 midterm elections. The remarks underscore administration concern that anxiety over the trade battle could hurt Republican performance in midterm congressional elections, scheduled for Nov. 6.

“Going into elections, Trump has got to look like a strong leader and it helps to have an enemy abroad -- this is a truism of international relations,” said Rosita Dellios, an associate international relations professor at Bond University in Gold Coast, Australia. “China would be ill-advised not to pursue some level of influence through the media and other sources. But that’s normal. The Americans do it. The Russians do it.”

While the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs didn’t immediately respond to a faxed request for comment on Pence’s remarks, Foreign minister Wang Yi dismissed Trump’s earlier claims as “unwarranted.” Trump didn’t provide much evidence to back up the accusation.BLOOMBERG

WASHINGTON: