China has congratulated upcoming US president Joe Biden on his election victory. “We esteem the choice of the American people,” said a spokesman for the Chinese State Department.
In addition to Biden, he also congratulated future Vice President Kamala Harris.
China had previously been reticent. US media declared Biden the winner almost a week ago, but incumbent President Donald Trump refuses to admit defeat.
Yet many other countries, including the Netherlands, had already congratulated the Democrat Biden.
Beijing had initially only determined that Biden had declared himself the winner, but is now taking it a step further.
“We congratulate Mr Biden and Mrs Harris,” said the spokesman. He emphasized that the “outcome of the American election is determined based on American law and procedures”.