White House Refuses Comment On Chinese Businessman Said To Have Fled To U.S.

The White House on Tuesday refused to comment Tuesday on the case of a politically-connected Chinese businessman who is said to have fled to the U.S. The New York Times reported Tuesday that China was seeking the return of the businessman, Ling Wancheng, whose older brother, Ling Jihua, was the chief of staff to China's former president Hu Jintao but is now on trial for corruption. White House spokesman Josh Earnest said he could not comment on any specific details of the case. In general, Earnest said U.S. officials always ask Chinese officials to provide "significant, clear and convincing" evidence to allow for the U.S. to investigate the case. Any allegations that the U.S. is hindering any other nation's campaign on corruption "don't stand up to reality," he said. Earnest said the U.S. wanted to maintain a constructive working relationship with China despite irritants like inadequate protection of intellectual property by China and disputes over the China's actions in the South China Sea. China's President Xi Jinping is scheduled to come to the White House for a state visit in September.