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     Darren Scheets-South Central Manager
       

China: Interference Claims 'Groundless'07/17 06:26

   

   BEIJING (AP) -- China on Friday said it has never interfered in U.S. 
elections and has no interest in doing so, urging Washington to stop making 
what it described as "groundless accusations" after President Donald Trump 
accused Beijing of meddling in the 2020 election.

   In an address to the nation Thursday, Trump again raised doubts about the 
U.S. elections results in 2020 and accused China of interfering in them.

   "The relevant allegations by the U.S. are entirely fabricated and aimed at 
vilifying China," said China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian. "We have 
no interest in interfering in US elections and have never done so."

   In a daily briefing in Beijing, Lin called on the U.S. to stop making 
groundless accusations against China.

   Asked whether this might affect the expected visit of Chinese President Xi 
Jinping to the U.S. in September, the spokesperson replied: "As I just said, we 
urge the U.S. to stop making an issue of China in its elections and do 
something conducive to China-U.S. relations."

   Trump visited Beijing in mid-May and met with Xi, and both governments said 
they would adopt a new framework to manage the bilateral relations. Trump 
invited Xi to visit the United States in September and Beijing confirmed Xi has 
accepted the invitation.