China's foreign minister has alleged that the US is spreading lies and conspiracies about the coronavirus, escalating frictions between the two economic powerhouses.
Wang Yi told members of the press on Sunday that US has been sickened by a "political virus" that impels some politicians to assault China again and again. The Chinese official called on the US to stop wasting time in its actions against the ongoing global health crisis.
Wang said during his annual media briefing reported by Reuters and cited in The Hill, that apart from the deadly disease, "a political virus is also spreading in the United States and using every opportunity to attack and smear China."
Animosity between China and the US have been increasing over the pandemic, the ongoing unrest in Hong Kong, Taiwan and other key matters.
US President Donald Trump and other White House officials have accused China of mishandling the coronavirus, and alleged the disease had emerged from a laboratory in Wuhan and demanded an investigation into the source of the virus.
Wang also disclosed the charges filed against China by the US, which demands compensation for the pandemic, are attempts to blackmail the government with made up proof.
Wang stressed, as per The Week story, that some political figures in the US are taking the China-US ties "hostage and pushing our two countries to the edge ofa new Cold War."
Some political figures have ignored the fundamental facts and concocted numerous lies and conspiracy theories regarding China, the foreign minister added.
According to Wang Huiyao, chief of the Center for China and Globalization, as quoted by The Politico, the pandemic has severed personal meetings which is very bad.
The bravado, analysts say, is not just detrimental for diplomacy but also at stake is a $200 billion trade agreement, which Trump wants to take advantage of to boost the capacity of the American agricultural sector and its workers, utility firms, and other exporters.
Despite his strongly-worded statements, Wang urged for cooperation between China and the US in containing the COVID-19 crisis, saying the two countries have a big accountability for global development and peace.
Wang pointed out that while Beijing welcomes the opportunity to work hand in hand with the international community to shed light into the origins of the disease, such a probe should not be politicized.
Wang also disclosed that charges filed by the US seeking for compensation from the Chinese government over the so-called irregularities from the ongoing crisis have no basis whatsoever in law or even international precedence.
