During his recent visit to China, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressed apprehensions regarding Chinese attempts to influence the upcoming US elections. Despite Chinese President Xi Jinping’s earlier assurance not to interfere, Blinken highlighted evidence of such efforts. In an interview with CNN, Blinken disclosed his concerns, emphasizing the need for China to uphold its commitment to refrain from meddling in the 2024 US presidential elections. The discussions between Blinken and top Chinese officials, including President Xi, covered a range of contentious issues, from US tech regulations to Beijing’s alignment with Moscow.
Blinken reiterated President Joe Biden’s message to Xi, urging China to respect the sovereignty of the US electoral process. The diplomatic exchange underscores the ongoing challenges in US-China relations and the importance of transparency and non-interference in democratic processes.
Blinken said he repeated a message President Joe Biden gave to Xi during their summit in San Francisco last November not to interfere in the 2024 US presidential elections. Then, Xi had pledged that that China would not do so, according to CNN reporting. “We have seen, generally speaking, evidence of attempts to influence and arguably interfere, and we want to make sure that that’s cut off as quickly as possible,” Blinken said when asked whether China was violating Xi’s commitment to Biden so far.
“Any interference by China in our election is something that we’re looking very carefully at and is totally unacceptable to us, so I wanted to make sure that they heard that message again,” Blinken said, adding there was concern about China and other countries playing on existing social divisions in the US in influence campaigns
He also expressed concerns about China and other countries exploiting social divisions within the US for influence campaigns. Blinken highlighted the reported activities during his recent statements, emphasizing the need to address such interference. While Beijing maintains a stance of non-interference in other countries’ internal affairs, allegations of political meddling have surfaced in nations like Canada, potentially linked to China.
Blinken’s visit to China, his second within a year, signifies ongoing efforts to strengthen bilateral relations following the Biden-Xi summit last year. The diplomatic engagements aim to enhance communication channels that had been strained in recent years.
Warning on support for Russia
Blinken also said he used his meeting to raise the Biden administration’s concerns about China’s support for Russia’s defense industrial base – and to stress that further action would be taken by the US on top of existing sanctions on more than 100 Chinese entities and individuals if such support continues.
The US believes that Chinese support is enabling Russia to ramp up production of tanks, munitions and armored vehicles – and to continue its onslaught on Ukraine.
“What we said to China is this – we’re going to take actions we already have, and if it doesn’t stop, we’re going to have to take more action, and you can anticipate as well, that other countries will (too),” Blinken said, adding that he raised the issue to both Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Xi. “We’re looking to them to act, and … if they don’t, we will.”
Beijing has previously slammed the US as making “groundless accusations” over “normal trade and economic exchanges” between China and Russia.
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