Mike Pence accuses China of meddling in US democracy
Mike Pence launches a scathing attack on China’s meddling in US and its attempts to undermine Donald Trump.
Beijing has rejected US Vice President Mike Pence’s charge that China was meddling in American elections as “unwarranted” and “ridiculous”.
In a blistering speech, Mr Pence accused China of meddling in US society and attempting to undermine Donald Trump, warning that Washington will never bow to intimidation.
“The relevant speech made unwarranted accusations against China’s domestic and foreign policies and slandered China by claiming that China meddles in US internal affairs and election,” Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said in a statement.
“This is nothing but speaking on hearsay evidence, confusing right and wrong and creating something out of thin air. The Chinese side is firmly opposed to it,” she said.
Mr Pence’s comments came as former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull said in Washington that every country had a right to ensure its politics were controlled by its own people.
When asked about the Pence speech, Mr Turnbull said; “I don’t want to get involved in American domestic politics but every nation has the right, the obligation, to ensure that its own politics are in the hands of its own people.
“And that where foreigners seek to have a voice, and in a democracy of course they can, it has to be done openly and transparently,” Mr Turnbull said after an address to the Center For Strategic and International Studies.
US policy on Chinese interference has toughened this year after Washington observed Australia’s experience which led Mr Turnbull as prime minister to introduce new foreign interference laws.
Mr Pence’s strongly worded speech came amid worsening relations between the US and China over trade, foreign interference and strategic confrontation in the South China Sea.
Ms Hua accused Washington of stigmatising “normal exchanges” with Bejing as China interfering in American internal affairs and elections. “It is very ridiculous,” she said.
“China always follows the principle of non-interference in others’ internal affairs and we have no interest in meddling in US internal affairs and elections.
“We urge the US to correct its wrongdoing, stop groundlessly accusing and slandering China and harming China’s interests and China-US ties.”
Mr Pence’s speech, which was calculated to reflect Mr Trump’s more hawkish attitude to China, accused Beijing of reckless military harassment in the South China Sea and economic aggression against the US.
It accused China of using “debt diplomacy” in Asia and elsewhere — an accusation which follows concerns expressed by Australia about China’s infrastructure activities in the South Pacific.
“The terms of those loans are opaque at best and the benefits flow overwhelmingly to Beijing,” Mr Pence said in the speech to the Hudson Institute in Washington.
But Mr Pence was scathing of China’s attempt to undermine Mr Trump.
“China is meddling in American democracy … China wants a different president,” he said.
“China has initiated an unprecedented effort to influence American public opinion, the 2018 elections, and the environment leading into the 2020 elections.
“The American people deserve to know that, in response to the strong stand President Trump has taken, Beijing is pushing a comprehensive and co-ordinated campaign to undermine support for the president, our agenda, and our nation’s most cherished ideals.”
Mr Pence said intelligence leaders have told him that China’s interference across American society is now far larger and more pervasive than anything Russia is doing.
“China is targeting US state and local governments and officials to exploit any divisions between federal and local levels on policy,” he said.
“It’s using wedge issues, like tariffs, to advance Beijing’s political influence.’
Mr Pence also took aim at China’s efforts to influence academics, journalists and Hollywood. “Beijing is employing a whole-of-government approach to advance its interests,” he said.
“Beijing routinely demands that Hollywood portray China in a strictly positive light, and it punishes studios and producers that don’t.”
Mr Pence said China’s military was becoming more assertive and aggressive in the disputed waters of the South China Sea.
“China’s aggression was on display this week, when a Chinese naval vessel came within 45 yarns of the USS Decatur as it conducted freedom-of-navigation operations in the South China Sea, forcing our ship to quickly manoeuvre to avoid collision,” he said.
“Despite such reckless harassment, the US Navy will continue to fly, sail, and operate wherever international law allows and our national interests demand.
“We will not be intimidated, we will not stand down.”
On trade, Mr Pence said Beijing had chosen “economic aggression” against the US rather than take steps to make trade between the two nations fair and reciprocal.
Cameron Stewart is also US Contributor for Sky News Australia
With AFP
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