China doesn't meddle in other countries' internal affairs, the country's foreign ministry said at a regular briefing in Beijing on Wednesday, addressing Donald Trump's recent allegations that Beijing was seeking to interfere in the US midterm election.
'Everyone Knows the Main Meddler'
Is is clear to the international community which country interferes most in other countries' affairs, ministry spokesman Geng Shuang noted, as cited by Reuters; however, he didn't specify the "main meddler." He also warned Washington against any actions that could damage relations with China.
READ MORE: China's Meddling in US Affairs Reaches Unacceptable Level — Official
His comments came on the heels of Donald Trump's claims that China was looking to meddle in this year's midterm election in the US. "Regrettably, we found that China has been attempting to interfere in our upcoming 2018 election coming up in November. Against my administration," Trump said at a meeting of the UN Security Council on Wednesday.
'Provocations' in South China Sea
On Thursday, China's defence ministry said that the country was "resolutely opposed" to the US military aircraft taking provocative actions in South China Sea and demanded that Washington take steps to improve military relations.
This came after the US military flew B-52 bombers in the vicinity of the South China Sea this week as part of what it called "regularly scheduled operations." The South China Sea is a region emboriled in a number of disputes over islands, coral reefs, and maritime ways between China, Taiwan, Malaysia, Vietnam, the Philippines, and Indonesia.
All-Out Tariff War
In turn, the Chinese commerce ministry expressed hope for the resoltion of trade tensions with Washington, but said it had prepared for all eventualities. The ministry said in a regular briefing that China's economy woudn't collapse under Washington's threats and that American officials should not underestimate China's determination and capabilities.
Trump earlier announced that the United States would impose fresh 10 percent tariffs on $200 billion in Chinese goods that will take effect on September 24. On January 1, the tariffs are expected to grow to 25 percent.
China-US trade tensions escalated in March after Trump announced import tariffs on steel and aluminum. Since then, Washington and Beijing have imposed several rounds of tit-for-tat tariffs, with bilateral trade consultations so far failing to halt the mounting trade war.
