China Rejects Allegations of Voter Data Theft from 2020 U.S. Election

China has firmly dismissed President Donald Trump’s accusation of orchestrating an operation to steal American voter data during the 2020 U.S. election. Lin Jian, spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, stated on Friday that the allegations are baseless and aim to tarnish China’s image.

During a press briefing, Lin emphasized that similar accusations have previously been debunked. At the White House, Trump claimed that China illegally obtained 220 million files containing sensitive voter information to impact the election outcome. He described it as the largest compromise of election data ever recorded.

This claim reinvigorates Trump’s longstanding criticism of American election security, despite a U.S. intelligence assessment in 2021 that revealed no evidence of China influencing the 2020 vote results.

Lin argued that China has neither the interest nor the history of meddling in U.S. elections. He challenged the U.S. to reflect on its own conduct regarding interference and surveillance in foreign affairs.

“We urge the U.S. to stop unjust criticisms against China, refrain from making China a topic in its electoral process, and work towards nurturing stable U.S.-China relations,” Lin stated.

Trump’s allegations surface during a delicate period in U.S.-China relations. The two nations are working to stabilize ties amidst tensions ranging from military challenges in the Pacific to a turbulent trade war, prompted by Trump’s tariffs on Chinese goods and others.

Although Trump’s discussions with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing in May didn’t lead to significant concessions, both parties viewed the summit as a chance to ease tensions. Trump has extended an invitation to Xi for a visit to Washington in September.

Requests for comment from the Chinese Embassy in Washington, D.C., and the White House remain unanswered. Updates on this evolving story will follow.