Beijing, China – US Secretary of State Antony Blinken raised concerns about Chinese attempts to influence the upcoming US elections, despite Chinese President Xi Jinping’s earlier commitment not to interfere. Blinken made these remarks during an interview with CNN’s Kylie Atwood at the conclusion of his three-day trip to China, where he held meetings with top Chinese officials, including Xi, to address various contentious issues such as US tech controls and Beijing’s support for Moscow.
Blinken reiterated President Joe Biden’s message to Xi during their summit last November, urging China not to interfere in the 2024 US presidential elections. Despite Xi’s pledge that China would not interfere, Blinken noted evidence of attempts to influence and interfere with the elections, emphasizing the need to cut off such activities promptly.
The US Secretary of State expressed firm opposition to any form of election interference by China, stressing that it is unacceptable to the United States. He also expressed concerns about China and other countries exploiting existing social divisions in the US for influence campaigns. Blinken’s trip marked the latest in a series of high-level engagements between the US and China, aimed at expanding bilateral communications that had been severely strained.
In addition to election interference concerns, Blinken raised the issue of China’s support for Russia’s defense industrial base and warned of potential additional actions by the US if such support continues. He emphasized the US belief that Chinese support is enabling Russia to increase its production of military equipment and continue its aggression in Ukraine.
Furthermore, Blinken addressed the issue of pro-Palestinian protests in the US and defended the American right to protest, while also noting instances of clear expressions of antisemitism at some of these gatherings. He highlighted the importance of allowing such expressions in democracies, contrasting the situation with the lack of such freedoms in China.