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Hong Kong (CNN) – China congratulated US President-elect Joe Biden and his running mate, Kamala Harris, on their electoral success nearly a week after giving 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 Mrs. Harris. At the same time, we understand that the outcome of these US elections will be determined in accordance with US laws and procedures, “he said.
The congratulations come four days after Wang dodged CNN’s questions about when China would congratulate the U.S. president-elect on his victory, leaving many to speculate whether officials expected Donald Trump to make a formal concession.
China had “taken note”
At the time, Wang said he “took note” of Biden’s declaration of victory. “We will deal with the issue of the declaration (congratulations) in accordance with international practice,” Wang said Monday.
China is one of the last major nations to congratulate President-elect Biden and his team on the victory. Numerous 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.
Attention in the media
(Photo by NOEL CELIS / AFP via Getty Images)
So far, Chinese state media have been cautious in handling Biden’s victory over their increasingly strident tone towards the Trump administration amid the continuing deterioration of bilateral relations.
While some outlets posted 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 subsequent confusion.
Experts suggest Beijing may have been reluctant to do anything that might antagonize the outgoing US administration in its final months in power.
In an editorial on Thursday, the state-owned China Daily said that “the enthusiasm of foreign leaders” for congratulating Biden showed that they wanted to “turn away from the current administration and its divisive policies.”
“China is always ready to work with the United States to manage their differences. Anyone 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 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.
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