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New Delhi, Delhi, India
US President Donald Trump has accused China of "actively trying to impact and change our election".
The charge was made in a pair of early-morning tweets.
"China has openly stated that they are actively trying to impact and change our election by attacking our farmers, ranchers and industrial workers because of their loyalty to me," Trump said.
"What China does not understand is that these people are great patriots and fully understand that China has been taking advantage of the United States on Trade for many years," Trump added.
Trump added that he was "the one" to stop it.
China has openly stated that they are actively trying to impact and change our election by attacking our farmers, ranchers and industrial workers because of their loyalty to me. What China does not understand is that these people are great patriots and fully understand that.....
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 18, 2018
.....China has been taking advantage of the United States on Trade for many years. They also know that I am the one that knows how to stop it. There will be great and fast economic retaliation against China if our farmers, ranchers and/or industrial workers are targeted!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 18, 2018
It was not clear what open statements by China -- if any -- Trump was referring to.
The US is headed to mid-term elections in November.
Most US investigative agencies have come to the conclusion that Russia had meddled in the 2016 US presidential elections which brought Trump to power. Trump however, while cosying up to Russian President Vladimir Putin, has generally said otherwise.
He is on the other hand currently embroiled in a full-blown trade war with China.
That trade war was begun by Trump and China has retaliated in equal measure, which is standard international business practice. Commentators have said some of those tariffs are going to hurt sections of the US electorate that voted Trump.
The commentators have also added that Trump's tariffs seem (unintentionally) aimed at hurting America most.