Pence accuses China of seeking to change US president

US Vice President Mike Pence on Thursday accused China of seeking a change of power in the White House, stepping up allegations of electoral interference.

"To put it bluntly, President Trump's leadership is working; China wants a different American president," Pence said in a speech to the Hudson Institute, a conservative Washington think tank.

"There can be no doubt -- China is meddling in America's democracy."

Pence cited China's advertisements in US media and its targeting of politically strategic states when singling out goods for retaliation following tariffs imposed by Trump.

"There can be no doubt -- China is meddling in America's democracy," Pence said.

The hard-hitting speech comes as Trump faces a probe into whether his campaign colluded with Russia to sway the 2016 presidential election.