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.

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.

“We don’t want them to meddle or interfere in our upcoming election.”

source: bbc.com