China Denies Allegations of Election Data Theft

China has firmly rejected former President Donald Trump’s accusation that it conducted a wide-scale operation to steal American voter data during the 2020 U.S. election. The allegations, described by Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian as lacking any factual basis, were made by Trump at a White House event.

Lin stated at a press briefing on Friday that these types of accusations against China have previously been proven unfounded. Trump had claimed that China obtained 220 million files containing sensitive voter data, calling it the most significant election data compromise ever.

The speech reignited Trump’s criticisms of U.S. election integrity. This was despite a 2021 U.S. intelligence report finding no evidence that China influenced the election’s outcome.

In response, Lin stressed that China has no interest in, nor has it interfered with, American elections. He questioned which country has been involved in widespread interference in other nations’ affairs and cybersecurity breaches, indirectly pointing to U.S. conduct.

“We urge the U.S. to reflect on its own behavior: stop the unwarranted vilification of China; stop making China an issue in its elections; and behave in a manner more conducive to stable U.S.-China relations,” Lin added.

Trump’s remarks occur during a complicated period for U.S.-China relations, as both nations attempt to manage tensions involving military competition and trade disputes. Last year’s imposition of tariffs by Trump further escalated these issues.

Although Trump’s discussions with Chinese President Xi Jinping in May did not produce significant breakthroughs, the summit was seen as a chance to reset the tense relationship. Trump has extended an invitation to Xi for a visit to Washington in September.

The Chinese Embassy in Washington, D.C., and the White House have yet to respond to requests for comment made outside regular hours. This story is still developing, with more updates expected.