China on Friday strongly responded to accusations from U.S. President Donald Trump, who the day before suggested in a national address that Beijing had attempted to influence the 2020 presidential election to prevent his re-election. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China labeled these statements as “pure fabrication” and “malicious slander,” urging Washington to stop using China as a pawn in its domestic political disputes.
“China has always adhered to the principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries. It has no interest in the U.S. elections and has never interfered in them,” said ministry spokesman Lin Jian during a daily press conference. He added that these accusations “have long been disproven as baseless.” Lin called on the United States to “reflect on its own actions,” cease “unfoundedly slandering China,” and contribute to stabilizing bilateral relations: “We urge the American side to take more actions that will benefit relations between China and the United States.”
Trump’s accusations and intelligence findings
Trump made the accusations during a televised address from the White House on Thursday evening, focused on election security. The American leader claimed that China in 2020 illegally obtained information about approximately 220 million American voters, calling it “the largest leak of voter data in history.” He asserted that Beijing sought to prevent his re-election because it considered him “too smart,” fearing he would impose new tariffs. Trump also accused U.S. intelligence officials of withholding information about these alleged actions.
However, the declassified documents referenced by Trump do not substantiate claims that China altered votes or manipulated the election results. A U.S. intelligence assessment published in 2021 concluded that no foreign actor interfered with the technical aspects of the elections, such as ballots or vote counting. The released information does mention China’s activities in gathering data on American politics and the electorate but does not confirm any manipulation of the electoral process. Trump reiterated his accusations regarding the 2020 election, in which Democrat Joe Biden defeated him by seven million votes, less than four months before the U.S. Congressional elections.
Tension amid diplomatic rapprochement
The U.S. president used his address to pressure Republicans to advance an ambitious electoral reform bill, the SAVE America Act, which aims to strengthen identification and citizenship requirements for voting. This bill has so far been blocked by Democratic opposition in the Senate. Such rhetoric regarding China contrasts with Trump’s recent attitude toward his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping. During his state visit to Beijing in May, Trump praised his host, calling him a “friend” and a “great leader,” while emphasizing their personal relationship.
Although the summit did not yield significant agreements, it helped reduce tensions following the 2025 tariff war and reinforced the notion that relations between the two largest countries should be built on direct contact between their leaders. This dialogue is set to continue in September in Washington. Trump invited Xi to visit the United States on September 24, although the Chinese government has not yet publicly confirmed the trip. Beijing informed the Republican administration that future meetings would depend on maintaining a favorable climate between the two nations, according to sources familiar with the negotiations, as reported by Reuters. The September meeting is viewed as an opportunity to advance trade negotiations that remained unresolved in May and to discuss other contentious issues—from Taiwan to technological restrictions. The calendar also presents another chance for both leaders to meet in person before the end of the year. Trump is considering attending the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in November, which will take place in Shenzhen, in southern China. Thus, both parties are preparing a series of mutual visits as Washington and Beijing seek to manage their rivalry, which is still marked by deep strategic differences. Meanwhile, Trump’s recent accusations introduce a new element of tension into this delicate rapprochement process.
Source: El País
