Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Trump: China a threat to elections
President claims China trying to interfere in midterm because it opposes his tough trade policies.
UNITED NATIONS — Taking center stage at the United Nations, President Donald Trump on Wednesday accused China of trying to interfere in the upcoming U.S. congressional elections because it opposes his tough trade policies. The White House provided scant evidence of anything akin to the level of Russia’s meddling in the 2016 presidential election.
“They do not want me or us to win because I am the first president ever to challenge China on trade,” Trump said as he chaired the U.N. Security Council for the first time. He made his accusation against the backdrop of the special counsel’s investigation into Russian interference in the last election to help him and amid concerns that November’s elections also could be vulnerable.
Asked what evidence he had, Trump said there was “plenty” but didn’t provide details, suggesting that some of the material was classified. Instead, he zeroed in on China’s propaganda efforts to flood the heartland with ads and statements against Trump’s billions of dollars in punishing tariffs.
“I don’t like it when they attack our farmers, and I don’t like it when they put out false messages. But beside that, we learned that they are trying to meddle in our elections, and we’re not going to let that happen just as we’re not going to let that happen with Russia.”
China’s foreign minister shrugged when he heard Trump’s statement via translation at the Security Council.
“We do not and will not interfere in any countries’ domestic affairs,” Foreign Minister Wang Yi said. “We refuse to accept any unwarranted accusations against China, and we call on other countries to also observe the purposes of the U.N. charter and not interfere in other countries’ internal affairs.”
A senior Trump administration official who briefed reporters about Trump’s comments said China was stepping up covert and overt activities to punish those who support Trump’s tough trade stance and interfere in the political system. The only specifics given by the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, were that China is hurting farmers and workers in states and districts that voted for Trump.
The official said China stifles free speech on U.S. campuses and punishes or rewards businesses, think tanks, movie studios and political candidates for criticizing or supporting Chinese politics. The official added that more information would be declassified in coming days and that Vice President Mike Pence was expected to speak on the issue next week.
Democrats on the House intelligence committee requested information from the Trump administration on the Chinese efforts.
Trump leveled his charge against China amid a whirlwind day of diplomacy at the United Nations, where he had meetings with Japan’s Shinzo Abe, Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu and Britain’s Theresa May.
The president also used his moment chairing the Security Council meeting on nuclear proliferation to issue a strong warning to Iran, which he deemed the “world’s leading sponsor of terror” fueling “conflict around the region and far beyond.”
And he held an hour-plus news conference during which he jousted with reporters.
Trump praised his personal relationship with China’s Xi Jinping and said he would call him on Thursday. He sidestepped a question in the news conference as to how he compared China’s meddling efforts with what Russia did.
There is extensive evidence linking Russia to attempts to penetrate U.S. elections systems and to influence U.S. voters.
With the elections less than two months away, U.S. intelligence and electionprotection officials have not cited any specific, credible Chinese efforts.
Officials say China’s cyber-espionage operations targeting U.S. defense and commerce have been formidable, however. And Trump’s claim comes amid an escalation of tensions between Washington and Beijing, spurred by their growing trade dispute.
Trump also defended his work to settle a nuclear deal with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, saying he has given up nothing but his time during a June summit yet stands on the cusp of denuclearizing the North.
During his news conference, the president told reporters that despite tough U.S. sanctions against the North staying in place, he believes Kim wants to get a deal done.
“We have a very good relationship. He likes me, I like him, we get along,” Trump said. “He wants to make a deal and I’d like to make a deal.”
He wouldn’t put a time frame, however, on when the two leaders might settle the standoff.
Trump also made the stunning claim that former President Barack Obama told Trump that Obama was “very close” to going to war with the North.
“If I wasn’t elected,” Trump said, “you’d be in a war.”