Trump accuses China of election meddling

NEW YORK: US President Donald Trump accused China on Wednesday of working against his Republican Party in upcoming midterm elections, saying Beijing wants to see him suffer defeat because of his hard line on trade.

“Regrettably we found that China has been attempting to interfere in our upcoming 2018 election coming up in November against my administration,” Trump told a meeting of the United Nations Security Council.

“They do not want me or us to win because I am the first president ever to challenge China on trade.”

Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi rejected what he termed as “unwarranted accusations”.

“China has all along followed the principle of non-interference,” Wang said in the same session, which was chaired by the US president.

“We did not and will not interfere in any country’s domestic affairs. We refuse to accept any unwarranted accusations against China.”

Trump did not say how he believed China was interfering in the midterms, which could see the Republicans lose control of both the Senate and House of Representatives.

But he later told reporters there is clear evidence to back up his claim.

His allegation comes as tensions soar between Beijing and Washington, which this week enacted new tariffs against China covering another US$200 billion (RM828 billion) of its imports.

Also this week, US B-52 bombers flew over the disputed South China Sea and East China Sea and Beijing slammed US plans to sell military parts to selfgoverning Taiwan.

Asked how Chinese President Xi Jinping could remain his friend given the hike in tensions, Trump indicated that their relations might have taken a permanent turn for the worse.

“He may not be a friend of mine anymore but I think he probably respects me,” Trump said.

Trump has called Xi a “good friend” several times since their first meeting at his Florida resort in April 2017. – AFP