China Rejects Trump’s Request To Investigate Biden Family

Geng Shuang, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesman, made a statement rejecting President Trump’s request. (Wikimedia Commons)

China rejected President Donald Trump’s request to investigate Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden and his family on October 8. On October 3, Trump publicly requested that China investigate the Biden family in front of a group of journalists on the White House lawn. This direct appeal for a foreign country’s aid has added complexity and additional considerations to the impeachment inquiry already in progress.

The impeachment inquiry pursues a possible breach of the president’s oath of office, as the president asked for aid in his campaign from a foreign country. Trump currently faces a charge of abuse of his position as president by pressuring Ukraine to investigate former-Vice President Joe Biden and his son.

Trump’s recent request for China to investigate the Bidens also comes in a time of tense trade negotiations.

“I have a lot of options on China, but if they don’t do what we want, we have tremendous power,” Trump told reporters prior to the request. 

On October 8, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang made a statement rejecting Trump’s request, explaining that China had no intention of becoming involved in the United States’ domestic affairs. 

“China has long pursued the principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries,” said Geng. “We have no intention of intervening in the domestic affairs of the United States. Our position is consistent and clear.”

Trump’s appeal to China precedes scheduled trade negotiations between the United States and China on October 10 and 11. The United States plans to impose additional tariffs on Chinese goods on October 15 following the two days of trade negotiations. Meanwhile, China seeks to convince the United States to postpone the tariffs during the negotiations. 

“The nature of China-U.S. economic and trade relation is mutually beneficial,” Geng said. “It is normal that disputes exist. But we have to stick to the basis of mutual respect, equal and mutual benefit in the process of resolving the dispute. I am afraid it is not a correct attitude if someone always wants to maintain an upper hand.”

Although diplomatic observers predict that Trump’s appeal will be a presence in the background of U.S.-China trade talks, China made clear that it will not budge on its refusal to interfere in U.S. domestic affairs.