China Demands Explanation From US, Claims They Aren’t Transparent With Covid-19 Data
With the outbreak of Covid-19, the USA has been actively criticising China for its poor management of the crisis.
On 11 Mar, US Security Advisor Robert O’Brien pointed out China’s delayed response and their lack of openness in sharing information.
A spokesman from the Chinese Foreign Ministry clapped back on Twitter in a 2-part tweet the next day (12 Mar), which you’ll soon see below.
He turned the tables on the USA, questioning the accuracy of Covid-19 numbers in their country.
The tweet goes as far as speculating the US involvement in bringing the virus to Wuhan.
Influenza deaths could have been Covid-19
On Wednesday (11 Mar), the director of USA’s Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) attended a hearing with the House Oversight Committee.
1/2 CDC Director Robert Redfield admitted some Americans who seemingly died from influenza were tested positive for novel #coronavirus in the posthumous diagnosis, during the House Oversight Committee Wednesday. #COVID19 pic.twitter.com/vYNZRFPWo3
— Lijian Zhao 赵立坚 (@zlj517) March 12, 2020
The CDC director admits that some Americans who were said to have died from influenza were subsequently tested positive for Covid-19.
With the information, Chinese spokesperson Zhao Lijian believes that “US owe us an explanation”.
China speculates that USA brought the virus to Wuhan
In his second tweet, Zhao points out that America cannot clearly identify their Patient Zero who might be hidden among influenza cases.
2/2 CDC was caught on the spot. 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! pic.twitter.com/vYNZRFPWo3
— Lijian Zhao 赵立坚 (@zlj517) March 12, 2020
Furthermore, he boldly stated that the USA army might have very well triggered the outbreak of Covid-19 in Wuhan.
In this reversed situation, China accuses the USA of a lack of transparency in delivering such data.
War of words between China and USA
It is apparent that both countries are using words as a medium to push the blame to one another, starting a ‘war of words‘ amidst Covid-19.
According to The Straits Times, Geng Shuang, another Chinese representative from the Foreign Ministry also responded to the criticism made by O’Brien in a Beijing media briefing.
Geng believes that the USA’s comments do not help their country’s situation.
He claimed that China’s attempt at curbing the spread of Covid-19 gave others ample time to prepare against the virus, including the USA.
Tensions between USA & China
This exchange suggests evident friction between USA and China following the outbreak of Covid-19.
Hence, we might be able to expect more of such interactions between the 2 superpowers.
Featured image adapted from Twitter & Nestia
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