Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption President Trump made the claim at a UN meeting 
 
 China is attempting to "meddle" in the forthcoming US mid-term elections, President Donald Trump told world leaders during a UN meeting. 
 
 "They don't want me or us to win because I am the first president to ever challenge China on trade," Mr Trump said on Wednesday. 
 
 Mr Trump did not offer proof for his claim. China and the US have been in a battle over tariffs since his election. 
 
 China's foreign minister denounced the "unwarranted accusation". 
 
 The US congressional mid-terms are due to be held on 6 November. 
 
 What did Trump say? 
 
 Opening the UN Security Council meeting in New York, which was held to discuss countering nuclear, chemical and biological weapons, Mr Trump accused China of trying to interfere, without providing specific evidence. 
 
 "Regrettably, we found that China has been attempting to interfere in our upcoming 2018 election, coming up in November, against my administration," he said. 
 
 "They do not want me or us to win because I am the first president ever to challenge China on trade. And we are winning on trade, we are winning at every level. 
 
 Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption In a later press conference, Mr Trump said China respects his "very large" brain 
 
 "We don't want them to meddle or interfere in our upcoming election." 
 
 In response, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told the council that "China has all along followed the principle of non-interference in other countries' domestic affairs." 
 
 "This is a tradition of Chinese foreign policy." 
 
 He continued: "We did not and will not interfere in any countries' domestic affairs. We refuse to accept any unwarranted accusations against China." 
 
 Mr Trump later took to Twitter to post photographs of newspaper extracts which he described as Chinese "propaganda". 
 
 When asked at a press conference if he had any evidence of Chinese interference, he said he could not divulge the proof but it would emerge. 
 
 Analysis - James Robbins, BBC diplomatic correspondent, New York 
 
 The United States is now making increasingly clear that it regards China as another threat to American democracy and freedoms, alongside Russia, North Korea and Iran. 
 
 Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has said that America's intelligence community, as well as the FBI and others, are working on countering what he calls "malintent". 
 
 Administration officials believe the Chinese are particularly skilled in dark cyber arts, up to and including the intimidation of all opposition. In their view, that extends to targeting Chinese students and teachers in the US who simply make clear they are enjoying their experiences. 
 
 The White House is now alleging that China has crossed a line into outright interference in America's democratic process too, attempting to turn Donald Trump's key supporters, including farmers, against him. 
 
 But in the midst of a spreading trade war between the two powers, the Chinese reject all this as baseless nonsense, insisting that's it's quite right they should be allowed to argue the benefits of US-China trade. 
 
 Where did the comments come from? 
 
 It is not the first time someone in the Trump administration has commented on alleged Chinese election meddling. 
 
 In an interview last month, US National Security Adviser John Bolton said Russia, North Korea, Iran, and China are all potentially planning to meddle in US elections. 
 
 "I can say definitively that it's a sufficient national security concern about Chinese meddling, Iranian meddling and North Korean meddling that we're taking steps to try to prevent it, so it's all four of those countries, really," Mr Bolton told ABC News. 
 
 On Tuesday Dan Coats, the US Director of National Intelligence, warned a cyber conference about China's online activities, and described Chinese President Xi Jinping has been "among the most active foreign states conducting cyber activities against United States interests". 
 
 "The Chinese government uses all of the capabilities at their disposal to influence US policies, spread propaganda, manipulate the media and pressure individuals, including students, critical of Chinese policies," he said. 
 
 Mr Trump has himself previously claimed on his Twitter feed that China "are actively trying to impact and change our election by attacking our farmers, ranchers and industrial workers because of their loyalty to me". 
 
 "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," Mr Trump tweeted on 18 September. 
 
 How are US-China relations? 
 
 The US president has been in an escalating trade dispute with China in recent months. 
 
 Earlier in September, Mr Trump directed officials to impose tariffs on $200bn (£151bn) in Chinese goods - the latest move to combat what the US says are China's unfair trade practices, such as state subsidies. 
 
 The new duties would add to tariffs the US has already imposed on $50bn in Chinese goods as part of that dispute, as well as tariffs that China levied on $50bn in US goods in retaliation. 
 
 In July, the Trump administration introduced a $12bn (£9.1bn) bailout plan to help farmers whose businesses have hurt by China adding reciprocal levies on products like soybeans. 
 
 Military relations have also taken a turn after Washington slapped sanctions on the Chinese military for buying weapons equipment from Russia, as punishment for the country's "malign activities". 
 
 US intelligence agencies have concluded that Russia sought to interfere in the 2016 presidential election in order to help Mr Trump's campaign. 
 
 In response, Beijing recalled a navy chief from a visit to the US and postponed military talks. 
 
 They also blocked a US Navy ship from docking in Hong Kong. ||||| United Nations (CNN) President Donald Trump claimed on Wednesday that China is working to interfere in November's midterm elections with the aim of damaging him politically. 
 
 "Regrettably, we found that China has been attempting to interfere in our upcoming 2018 election coming up in November against my administration," Trump said during remarks at the UN Security Council. 
 
 The President offered scant details or evidence, which came during a session meant to focus on issues of nonproliferation. He suggested the meddling attempts came as retribution for the budding trade war he has waged with Beijing. 
 
 "They do not want me or us to win because I am the first president ever to challenge China on trade," Trump said. "We are winning on trade. We are winning at every level. We don't want them to meddle or interfere in our upcoming election." 
 
 Speaking after Trump, China's representative on the Security Council denied attempts to interfere in US elections. 
 
 "China has all along followed the principle of non-interference in other countries' domestic affairs. This is a tradition of Chinese foreign policy," said Wang Yi, China's State Councilor and Minister for Foreign Affairs. "We do not and will not interfere in any countries' domestic affairs. We refuse to accept any unwarranted accusations against China, and we call upon other countries to also observe the purposes of the UN charter and not to interfere in other countries' internal affairs." 
 
 Later Wednesday, Trump tweeted an image of a recent China Daily sponsored insert in the Iowa-based Des Moines Register newspaper, containing articles supporting Beijing's stance on the trade war. 
 
 "China is actually placing propaganda ads in the Des Moines Register and other papers, made to look like news. That's because we are beating them on Trade, opening markets, and the farmers will make a fortune when this is over!" the US President said on his official Twitter. 
 
 China is actually placing propaganda ads in the Des Moines Register and other papers, made to look like news. That's because we are beating them on Trade, opening markets, and the farmers will make a fortune when this is over! pic.twitter.com/ppdvTX7oz1 — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 26, 2018 
 
 China Daily is a state-media publication which has regularly paid Western news organizations to publish pro-China supplements and advertisements. The US distributor of China Daily is registered as a foreign agent in the United States under the US Foreign Registration Act. 
 
 A senior administration official on Wednesday sought to further flesh out Trump's allegation that China "has been attempting to interfere" in the 2018 midterm elections, but offered no concrete evidence to back up the President's claim. None of the activities the official described rose to the level of Russia's coordinated campaign to influence voters in 2016 in support of Trump's candidacy. 
 
 Instead, the official lumped in longstanding practices of the Chinese government and reiterated the administration's belief that Chinese tariffs targeting regions in the US that supported the President in 2016 amount to election interference 
 
 The official described a "whole of government approach using political, economic, commercial and informational tools to benefit the interests of the Chinese Communist Party" and insisted that these activities "go way beyond how normal countries interact with one another." 
 
 "The activities have reached an unacceptable level," the official said on an official White House briefing call set up on condition of anonymity. 
 
 new round of tariffs on $200 billion worth of Chinese goods went into effect this week at Trump's order. The move escalated a standoff between the US and China, and Trump has held out the possibility of slapping additional tariffs should Beijing retaliate. 
 
 US intelligence officials have stated previously that nations like China or Iran may work to interfere in the midterm elections using a playbook established by Russia during the 2016 presidential contest. 
 
 Throughout his time in office, Trump has repeatedly downplayed Russia's attempts to interfere in the 2016 election, which US intelligence assessments say was meant to benefit him. 
 
 He did not mention Russian interference attempts during his remarks on Wednesday and the activities described by the senior administration official several hours later did not rise to the level of Russia's actions in 2016. 
 
 The official listed other longstanding Chinese government activities without making specific connections to the midterm elections or explaining how such actions amount to election interference: "China punishes or rewards businessmen, think tanks, movie studios, journalists, religious leaders and even political candidates depending on whether they criticize or support china's policies." 
 
 The official said the administration is "in the process of declassifying more information" and said Vice President Mike Pence will outline the Chinese effort in a speech next week at the Hudson Institute. 
 
 The official insisted that the actions amount to election interference because "some of these activities are actually covert." 
 
 Later, departing UN headquarters, Trump insisted there is ample evidence of China's enmity toward him. 
 
 "Plenty of evidence they would like to see me not win," Trump said when questioned about his earlier claim Beijing is working to interfere in November midterm contests. 
 
 "First time ever they've been confronted on trade," Trump said. "They can't get involved." 
 
 Earlier this month, US Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats said that election meddling attempts haven't yet reached the scale of the 2016 interference efforts. But he said US agencies were actively monitoring the situation ahead of the vote. 
 
 Republicans are working to retain control of the House and Senate, through face daunting prospects with an unpopular president. 
 
 Trump has suggested previously that China would work to damage Republicans in November. 
 
 "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," he tweeted last week. 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 has vowed to add tariffs on an additional $267 billion in Chinese goods if Beijing takes steps that negatively impact agricultural or industrial workers. 
 
 This story has been updated. ||||| President Donald Trump speaks during a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the United Nations General Assembly, Wednesday, Sept. 26, 2018, at U.N. Headquarters. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) (Associated Press) 
 
 President Donald Trump speaks during a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the United Nations General Assembly, Wednesday, Sept. 26, 2018, at U.N. Headquarters. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) (Associated Press) 
 
 UNITED NATIONS (AP) — President Donald Trump on Wednesday accused China of attempting to interfere in the upcoming United States congressional elections, claiming the Chinese are motivated by opposition to his tough trade policy. 
 
 The Chinese said it wasn't so. 
 
 Trump, speaking in front of world leaders while chairing the United Nations Security Council for the first time, made his accusation amid the ongoing special counsel investigation into Russia's attempts to interfere in the 2016 U.S. election to help him and concerns that the November elections could also be vulnerable. 
 
 "Regrettably, we found that China has been attempting to interfere in our upcoming 2018 election," Trump said "They do not want me or us to win because I am the first president ever to challenge China on trade." 
 
 Asked later what evidence he had, he replied, "Plenty of evidence," but he didn't provide any. 
 
 H alleged again, "They would like to see me not win because this is the first time ever that they've been confronted on trade. And we are winning and we're winning big. And they can't get involved with our elections." 
 
 A Chinese delegate shrugged when he heard Trump's statement via translation in the General Assembly. China later denied Trump's accusation. 
 
 "We do not and will not interfere in any countries' domestic affairs," said Foreign Minister Wang Yi at the United Nations. "We refuse to accept any unwarranted accusations against China, and we call on other countries to also observe the purposes of the U.N. charter and not interfere in other countries' internal affairs." 
 
 U.S. officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Trump's remark. 
 
 There is extensive evidence linking Russia to attempts to penetrate U.S. elections systems and to influence U.S. voters. But with the elections less than two months away, U.S. intelligence and election-protection officials have not cited any specific, credible Chinese efforts. 
 
 Officials say China's cyber-espionage operations targeting U.S. defense and commerce have been formidable, however. And Trump's claim comes amid an escalation of tensions between Washington and Beijing, spurred by their growing trade dispute. 
 
 Each imposed tariff increases on the other's goods Monday, and Beijing accused the Trump administration of bullying. A Chinese official said China cannot hold talks on ending the trade dispute while the U.S. "holds a knife" to Beijing's neck by imposing tariff hikes. 
 
 U.S. intelligence officials have said they are not now seeing the intensity of Russian intervention registered in 2016 and are also concerned about activity by China, Iran and North Korea. Trump's statement caught lawmakers and some national security officials off guard as Beijing has not been singled out as the most worrisome foe. 
 
 Thomas Rid, a Johns Hopkins cybersecurity expert, said, "I am not aware of any evidence of Chinese interference in the midterm elections." He said, "Chinese influence operations tend to be more subtle, less public, and business-related." 
 
 China has been accused of interfering in an election before, although not in the United States. Cybersecurity firm Fire Eye released a report in July describing "active compromises of multiple Cambodia entities related to the country's electoral system" including the National Election Commission, before the country's July 29 general elections. 
 
 The hackers' methods matched a Chinese-linked hacking group tied to multiple cyber operations that have breached U.S. defense contractors, universities and engineering and maritime technology development firms. 
 
 Trump also used his moment chairing the Security Council meeting about nuclear proliferation to issue a strong warning to nuclear-aspirant Iran, which he deemed the "world's leading sponsor of terror" fueling "conflict around the region and far beyond." 
 
 The president has withdrawn the U.S. from the 2015 nuclear accord with Iran, accusing the country of destabilizing actions throughout the region and support for terrorist groups like Hezbollah. Tough sanctions are due to kick in against Tehran in November, and Trump warned that there would be "severe consequences" for any nation that defied them. 
 
 Despite his tough talk, Trump said he could envision relations with Iran moving along a similar "trajectory" as ones with North Korea. A year ago at the U.N., Trump belittled its leader Kim Jong Un as "Rocket Man" and threatened to annihilate the country, but on Wednesday he touted the "the wonderful relationship" with Kim and teased that details of a second summit between the two men could be released soon. 
 
 He also condemned violence in the ongoing bloody civil war in Syria, saying that the "butchery is enabled by Russia and Iran." 
 
 Trump also waded into thorny Middle East politics, endorsing the two-state solution to bring an end the decades-long conflict between Israel and the Palestinians. A day after being greeted with laughter by world leaders still uncertain how to manage his "America First" ideology, Trump explicitly backed Israel, noted the moving of the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem and suggested that he saw progress on the horizon for Middle East peace. 
 
 "I like two-state solution," Trump said in his most clear endorsement of the plan as he met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. "That's what I think works best." 
 
 Trump indicated that moving the embassy was "a big chip" the U.S. delivered to the Israelis. 
 
 "I took probably the biggest chip off the table. And so obviously they have to start, you know, we have to make a fair deal. We have to do something. Deals have to be good for both parties." 
 
 "Now that will also mean that Israel will have to do something that is good for the other side." 
 
 The two-state "solution" is mostly aspirational. Ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestinians over the division of territory, borders and governance has spawned violence going back years and long stymied Mideast peace efforts. 
 
 Moving the embassy from Tel Aviv triggered considerable protest from the Palestinians and expressions of condemnation from many American allies who worried about further violence that could destabilize the fragile region. Trump said that his administration's peace plan, in part helmed by his son-in-law senior adviser Jared Kushner, would be released in the coming months. 
 
 ___ 
 
 Follow Lemire on Twitter at http://twitter.com/@JonLemire and Miller at http://twitter.com/@zekejmiller
– President Trump on Wednesday accused China of trying to meddle in the 2018 elections in a bid to keep him down. While opening a UN Security Council meeting, Trump put it like so, per the BBC: "In my remarks yesterday to the United Nations General Assembly, I laid out my administration's commitment to building a more just and peaceful future. Regrettably, we found that China has been attempting to interfere in our upcoming 2018 election coming up in November against my administration. They do not want me or us to win because I am the first president ever to challenge China on trade. We are winning on trade. We are winning at every level. We don't want them to meddle or interfere in our upcoming election." Foreign Minister Wang Yi, China's representative on the Security Council, responded with a denial, reports CNN: "We do not and will not interfere in any countries' domestic affairs. We refuse to accept any unwarranted accusations against China, and we call on other countries to also observe the purposes of the UN charter and not interfere in other countries' internal affairs." Trump was later asked what proof he had. "Plenty of evidence," he replied, though he didn't offer any. The AP reports a Chinese delegate "shrugged" when the remarks were translated in the General Assembly.