To defuse its accountability, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has tried to blame the United States for sending the coronavirus to China. The U.S. government responded strongly against its accusation. President Trump, some congress members, and some U.S. government officials have since been calling the virus the “Chinese virus” or the “Wuhan virus” to remind people that Beijing was liable for the coronavirus disaster
At a press conference on March 17, Geng Shuang, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in answer to questions, made the following comments about the United States.
Q: U.S. President Trump called the novel coronavirus a “Chinese virus.” What is China’s comment?
A: “Recently, some U.S. politicians linked the novel coronavirus to China. This stigmatizes China. We are strongly indignant about it and firmly object to it. … We urge the United States to fix its mistakes immediately and stop the groundless blaming against China immediately.”
Q: On March 16, Peter Navarro, Director of the Office of Trade and Manufacturing Policy at the White House said that the White House is preparing a Presidential executive order to move the medical supply chain back to the U.S. from China and to reduce the U.S. dependency on other countries. Do you have any comments?”
A: “The establishment and development of the global supply chain is the result of market rule companies’ choice. (People) should not use any excuse or approach to attempt to cut the global industry chain and supply chain manually, or even to promote ‘moving back’ and ‘decoupling.’ It is neither realistic nor sensible.”
Geng also stated that China has provided or is providing medical materials to a few dozen countries and regions, including Pakistan, Laos, Thailand, Iran, South Korea, Japan, Italy, and the Africa Union, that have an urgent need for them.
Related postings on Chinascope:
- Propaganda and Lies: Pompeo Called Yang Jiechi
- Propaganda and Lies: China’s Propaganda Machine Spread Zhao Lijian’s Accusation of the U.S.
- Propaganda and Lies: An Indecent Imported Infected Case to China
- Propaganda and Lies: President Trump Responded to China’s Accusation
- Propaganda and Lies: Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Said Virus Was From the US
Excerpt in Chinese:
问：美国总统特朗普昨天在推特中把新冠病毒称为“中国病毒”。中方对此有何评论？
答：近来，美国一些政客把新冠病毒同中国相联系，这是对中国搞污名化。我们对此强烈愤慨、坚决反对。
世界卫生组织和国际社会明确反对将病毒同特定的国家和地区相联系，反对搞污名化。我们敦促美方立即纠正错误，立即停止对中国的无端指责。
当前新冠肺炎疫情在全球多点暴发，扩散蔓延。当务之急是国际社会积极开展抗疫合作。美方应当首先做好自己的事，同时为抗疫国际合作、维护全球公共卫生安全发挥建设性作用。
问：16日，美国白宫国家贸易委员会主任纳瓦罗称，白宫正准备一项总统行政令，将医疗供应链从中国等国家转回美国，以降低对外国的依赖。你对此有何评论？
答：全球化时代，各国利益深度交融，你中有我、我中有你。全球产业链供应链的形成和发展，是市场规律和企业选择共同作用的结果。不论以任何借口或任何方式，试图人为切断全球产业链和供应链，甚至鼓噪“转移”、“脱钩”，既不现实，也不明智。
疫情面前，说这种话简直就是抓错了药，开错了方，不但无法解决美国自身面临的问题，反而会让美国普通民众受到更多的伤害。
中国是当今世界最大的医用防护服和口罩生产国，在全球医疗及防疫物资产业链供应链中占据着重要地位。当前，中国疫情防控形势发生积极变化，经济社会发展加快恢复，中国医疗防疫物资生产能力也在快速恢复和提升当中。这为全球医疗及防疫物资产业链供应链的安全稳定运行提供了支撑与保障，也为全球各地的抗疫斗争提供着支持与帮助。
我们始终铭记，在中方最困难的时候，国际社会许多成员给予中方真诚帮助和支持。当前，随着疫情在全球蔓延，一些国家面临医疗防疫物资缺口，希望得到中国援助或从中国购买。中国在全力抗击本国疫情的同时，克服自身困难，已经或正在向巴基斯坦、老挝、泰国、伊朗、韩国、日本、意大利、非盟等数十个有需要的国家和地区组织提供了他们急需的医疗物资。我们也鼓励和支持中国的医疗设备、救治药品、防护用品生产企业扩大生产，在保证国内需求的同时，对接国外商业采购需求，共同为全球抗击疫情作出贡献。
最后，我想再次强调，在这个需要大家勠力同心抗击疫情的时候，没有任何一个国家能够独善其身，各国必须团结协作，共克时艰，只有这样，才能早日战胜疫情。
Source: Foreign Ministry’s website, March 17, 2020
https://www.fmprc.gov.cn/web/fyrbt_673021/t1756941.shtml