Beijing
CNN
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US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the US has seen evidence that China is trying to “influence and possibly interfere” in upcoming US elections, despite leader Xi Jinping’s prior promise not to do so. He said that
Blinken made the comments to CNN’s Kylie Atwood in an interview Friday after the end of a three-day visit to China. Top US diplomats met for hours with senior Chinese officials, including Mr Xi, as the two countries navigate a number of contentious issues, from US technology control to Beijing’s support for Moscow.
Blinken said President Joe Biden reiterated a message he gave Xi at a summit in San Francisco last November, urging him not to interfere in the 2024 U.S. presidential election. CNN reported that President Xi then promised that China would not do such a thing.
Asked if China had violated Xi’s promises to Biden so far, Blinken said: “Generally speaking, we have seen evidence of attempts to influence and certainly interfere. We have confirmed that this is the case, and we would like to eliminate this problem as soon as possible.”
“Any interference by China in our elections is something we are watching very closely and is completely unacceptable to us, so we wanted them to hear that message again,” Blinken said. He added that there are concerns about this. Countries are exploiting existing social divisions within the United States in influence campaigns.
The Chinese government has repeatedly stated that it will not interfere in US elections, based on the principle of non-interference in other countries’ internal affairs. People believed to have ties to China or the Chinese government have been accused of political interference in other countries, including Canada.
Blinken’s visit is his second to the country in less than a year, marking the beginning of a series of high-level visits between the two countries that culminated with the Biden-Xi summit late last year and began an expansion of previously acrimonious ties. This is the latest of the talks. Reduced bilateral communication.
“While we are (currently) focused on areas of cooperation, we are also speaking openly about our differences, which is important to avoid competition that turns into conflict,” Blinken said. he told CNN.
Blinken also said he used the meeting to heighten the Biden administration’s concerns about China’s support for Russia’s defense industrial base, saying that if such support were to be used, it would threaten more than 100 Chinese companies and individuals. He stressed that in addition to existing sanctions, the United States would take further actions. continue.
The United States believes that with Chinese support, Russia will be able to increase production of tanks, munitions, and armored vehicles and continue its onslaught against Ukraine.
“What we have said to China is this: we will take the actions we are already taking, and if that does not stop we will need to take further action, and other countries will need to do the same. “You can expect that,” Blinken said, adding that he had raised the issue with both Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Xi. “We expect them to act. If they don’t act, we will act.”
He also said that the Chinese side does not acknowledge the role of these items in the Ukraine war. Rather, they characterized it as trade with Russia, and Blinken added that Moscow’s success is not dependent on China.
Beijing had previously accused the United States of making “baseless accusations” over “normal trade and economic exchanges” between China and Russia.
China has long maintained that it remains neutral in the Ukraine war, and has signaled itself as a potential peace broker in the conflict, even as it has strengthened economic, strategic and diplomatic ties with Russia since the war began. I have continued.
Blinken also defended America’s right to protest when asked about the pro-Palestinian protests that have erupted across American university campuses in recent days amid growing concern over the unfolding humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
In response to a question referring to reports of anti-Semitic rhetoric used at some of these rallies, Blinken said that while there were instances of overt anti-Semitic expression, “the protests themselves It’s not anti-Semitic.”
“And what we’re seeing is people who are very passionate and have very strong feelings[about the conflict]young people, people from all walks of life,” he said.
He also emphasized the importance of such expression in a democracy, without explicitly stating that China lacks such freedoms.
“It is of course appropriate to express that and to be protected in our country, our society, our democracy,” he said. “But we have certainly seen instances where it has clearly deviated from the expression of a perfectly legitimate view or belief, in some cases, to, yes, an expression of overt anti-Semitism.”
Blinken said the administration is listening to the American people and “taking their input into consideration.” However, he did not explain how the protesters’ concerns would affect the Biden administration’s policies.
Asked if his administration would consider halting arms shipments to Israel, as some protesters have called for, he said no.
“No, we are focused on what is in America’s interests. Whether it’s toward Israel or anyone else, our overall foreign policy best reflects both our interests and our values.” How can we do that?” Blinken said.
02:13 – Source: CNN
Reporter asks Blinken whether pro-Palestinian protests in the US will influence policy
Asked about resolving the Gaza conflict, Blinken said Hamas would decide whether to proceed with a ceasefire after the militant group refused to agree to several agreements.
He also said the move came after apparent retaliatory airstrikes between Iran and Israel earlier this month raised concerns that the war in Gaza could escalate into a broader conflagration. He said tensions across the region appeared to be easing.
“In retrospect, I hope we don’t see that kind of escalation,” Blinken said, explaining that Hamas may have seen that escalation when it rejected Israel’s hostage offer.
Blinken also said it was possible to hammer out a framework for normalization between Israel and Saudi Arabia, along with a two-state solution for Israel and the Palestinians, before the Gaza ceasefire takes effect, marking a reversal of the order of events. Indicated. U.S. officials had previously expected to follow suit.
“That’s certainly a possibility,” Blinken said. “Ceasefire or no ceasefire, we keep these possibilities known. But for this to actually happen, we need to end the Gaza conflict. And as I said, the Palestinian issue needs to end. We also need a solution, or at least an agreement on how to resolve it.”
Previously, U.S. officials said ongoing negotiations to secure a ceasefire needed to reach an agreement before further regional efforts could be made.
Referring to the countries that defended Israel after Iran launched its airstrikes on April 13, Mr. We will find a way to help protect them.”
“But this also requires an end to Gaza and a clear path to a Palestinian state. In such a future, Israel will have what it has wanted from the beginning of its existence: “We can have normal relations with regional countries,” he said.
Blinken cited continued U.S. efforts to normalize relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia as part of the possibility of reaching a historic agreement to end the Israel-Hamas war.
“We have been working intensively with our partners, and also with our European partners, to flesh out this content. I think the more we move from something that’s actually possible and realistic, the more everyone involved has to actually make decisions and make choices. That’s why we’re doing this work. And we’re trying to make that as real as possible,” Blinken said.
CNN’s Jennifer Hansler contributed reporting.
