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BEIJING (Reuters) – China on Friday congratulated U.S. President-elect Joe Biden, who won a Nov.3 election that President Donald Trump did not grant, nearly a week after the former vice president won enough states for victory.
“We respect the choice of the American people. We extend our congratulations to Mr. Biden and Ms. Harris,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said in a regular daily briefing, referring to Vice President-elect Kamala Harris.
“We understand that the results of the US elections will be determined in accordance with US laws and procedures,” he added, repeating Beijing’s earlier stance.
Trump’s refusal to accept defeat has put Beijing in an awkward position, as China resists doing anything to antagonize Trump, who has filed court challenges to the election and remains in office until the January 20 inauguration .
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Relations between China and the United States are at their worst in decades due to disputes ranging from technology and trade to Hong Kong and the coronavirus, and the Trump administration has unleashed a barrage of sanctions against Beijing.
Shortly after Biden’s victory after days of counting votes in several swing states, numerous U.S. allies offered congratulations, while the leaders of China and Russia were among the most conspicuous resisting.
In 2016, Chinese President Xi Jinping sent congratulations to Trump on November 9, the day after the election.
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(Reporting by Yew Lun Tian; written by Tony Munroe; edited by Catherine Evans and Peter Graff)
