[ad_1]
Hong Kong (CNN) – China congratulated US President-elect Joe Biden and his running mate, Kamala Harris, on their electoral success nearly a week after they delivered their victory speeches.
Speaking at a regular press conference on Friday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said China “respects the choice of the American people.”
“We congratulate Mr. Biden and Ms. Harris. At the same time, we understand that the outcome of this election in the United States will be determined in accordance with the laws and procedures of the United States, ”he said.
The congratulation comes four days after Wang sidestepped CNN’s questions about when China would congratulate the U.S. president-elect on his victory, leaving many speculating whether officials expected Donald Trump to make a formal concession.
China had ‘taken note’
At the time, Wang said they had “taken note” of Biden’s declaration of victory. “We will handle the issue of the (congratulations) statement in accordance with international practice,” Wang said Monday.
China is one of the last major nations to offer its congratulations to President-elect Biden and his team on their victory. A host of countries have already welcomed the new American leader, including the UK, Australia, Israel, France and Germany.
In 2016, Chinese President Xi Jinping congratulated Trump, then president-elect, just one day after he was declared the winner.
Caution in the media
(Photo by NOEL CELIS / AFP via Getty Images)
So far, Chinese state media has been cautious in its handling of Biden’s victory compared to its increasingly strident tone toward the Trump administration, amid continued deterioration in bilateral relations.
While some outlets have published profiles of Biden or highlighted a popular Beijing restaurant he visited in 2011, most Chinese media have focused their post-election coverage on the alleged fraud and the resulting confusion.
Experts suggest that Beijing may have been reluctant to do anything that might antagonize the outgoing US administration in its final months in power.
In an editorial Thursday, the state-run China Daily newspaper said that the “enthusiasm of foreign leaders” for congratulating Biden showed that they wanted to “turn their backs on the current administration and its divisive policies.”
“China is always ready to work with the United States to manage their differences. Whoever is in the White House must look at the regional situation objectively, ”the editorial said.
An article in the state tabloid Global Times described Biden as an “old friend” of China. A newspaper editorial published on Sunday after Biden’s victory said that while the newspaper hoped for better relations between Washington and Beijing under Biden, at the end of the day, China could only rely on itself.
“China must become a country that the United States cannot suppress or destabilize, and make cooperation with China the best option for the United States to realize its national interests. This is the fundamental principle, ”the editorial noted.
