The Guardian (USA)

China finally congratula­tes Joe Biden for winning US election

- Lily Kuo in Taipei

China has extended congratula­tions to the US president-elect, Joe Biden, becoming one of the last countries to acknowledg­e his electoral victory over Donald Trump.

On Friday, nearly a week after Biden was declared the winner, foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin commended the Democratic candidate and his running mate, Kamala Harris.

“We respect the choice of the American people. We extend congratula­tions to Mr Biden and Ms Harris,” he said at a regular press briefing. “We understand the results of the US election will be determined according to US laws and procedures.”

The comments stand in contrast to when the Chinese leader, Xi Jinping, personally congratula­ted Trump on his 2016 win the day after the election, and highlight uncertaint­y in ties between the two global powers.

Observers say the delay is probably the result of Beijing treading with caution as Trump refuses to concede the election. The US-China relationsh­ip has reached its lowest point in decades and there appears to be tentative optimism that tensions will ease slightly under a new administra­tion.

In a speech earlier this week, the US secretary of state, Mike Pompeo, said the White House was “not finished yet” with tough measures on China. Describing the ruling Chinese Communist party as a “Marxist-Leninist monster”, he vowed to continue pressing China for change.

Trump, with two months left in his term, signed an executive order on Thursday barring US investment in some Chinese firms with military links. In a radio interview on Thursday, Pompeo said Taiwan, which Beijing claims is part of its territory, “has not been part of China”. The remarks prompted Beijing to threaten “a resolute counteratt­ack”.

The US has also criticised Beijing for passing legislatio­n enabling the immediate disqualifi­cation of four prodemocra­cy lawmakers in Hong Kong, triggering a mass resignatio­n of opposition figures in the legislatur­e. In a statement on Thursday, Beijing said the measure was “the right medicine” for Hong Kong, in order to “start a new chapter ensuring smooth operation” of the legislatur­e.

 ?? Photograph: Liu Zheng/AP ?? ‘We respect the choice of the American people,’ said foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin, pictured.
Photograph: Liu Zheng/AP ‘We respect the choice of the American people,’ said foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin, pictured.

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