Beijing fumes at US attempt to link coronavirus to China
China has harshly hit back at US President Donald Trump over a tweet in which he referred to the new coronovirus as the “Chinese Virus,” condemning it as stigmatization.
In a tweet on Monday night, Trump said the US government would support those industries “particularly affected by the Chinese Virus.”
China’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang told reporters on Tuesday that Beijing was “strongly indignant” at the phrase, condemning it as “a kind of stigmatization.”
Geng told reporters that the US had to “immediately stop its unjustified accusations against China.”
Trump’s remarks also drew criticism from figures inside the US itself for inciting bigotry against the Asian-American community.
“Our Asian-American communities -- people YOU serve -- are already suffering. They don't need you fueling more bigotry,” New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio — whose state is one of the hardest-hit by the flu-like disease in the US — wrote on Twitter, addressing Trump.
The COVID-19 disease, caused by the new coronavirus, emerged in Wuhan, the capital of China’s Hubei Province, late last year and is currently affecting 161 countries and territories across the globe. It has killed 7,165 people as of Monday night, according to Reuters tallies.
The World Health Organization has declared the coronavirus outbreak a global pandemic.
On Thursday, another Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman, Zhao Lijian, suggested that the US military might have brought the new coronavirus to Wuhan.
“When did patient zero begin in US? How many people are infected? What are the names of the hospitals? It might be US army who brought the epidemic to Wuhan. Be transparent! Make public your data! US owe us an explanation!” Zhao tweeted.
The following day, the US administration summoned China’s ambassador to Washington to protest Zhao’s comments.
China asserts support for Iran’s efforts to safeguard national security, stability
China slams latest US arms sales to Taiwan
US approves $2 billion in arms sales to Taiwan including missiles
IRGC: 10 foreign-backed terrorists killed, arrested in Sistan and Baluchestan
Iran calls on EU to end targeting ordinary Iranians after missile transfer claims refuted
UK police detain Jewish scholar Haim Bresheeth following pro-Palestine address
VIDEO | Iraqi resistance strikes key Israeli targets in occupied territories
VIDEO | Press TV's news headlines
Iranian satellites launched into space as private sector debuts in space industry
VIDEO | Iran, Azerbaijan conduct joint maritime rescue operations
VIDEO | Yemen’s Red Sea divide: Naval forces block Israeli-linked ships in strategic ‘parting of the water’
PressTV NEWSLETTER
now
This makes it easy to access the Press TV website
