The British government is reportedly furious with China over its handling of the coronavirus epidemic, particularly with the disinformation campaign that the U.S. Army is responsible for the COVID-19 virus outbreak.
Senior British government officials say China risks becoming a “pariah state” for its handling of the virus, which was first discovered in the city of Wuhan, according to the Daily Mail.
“There is a disgusting disinformation campaign going on and it is unacceptable. They [the Chinese government] know they have got this badly wrong and rather than owning it they are spreading lies,” a source told the Mail.
A spokesman for China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs tweeted on March 12 that “it might be US army who brought the epidemic to Wuhan.”
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo demanded an end to Chinese officials promoting “outlandish” anti-American allegations and summoned the Chinese ambassador to Washington to the State Department for a tongue-lashing.
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
“The Chinese Communist Party poses a substantial threat to our health and way of life, as the Wuhan virus outbreak clearly has demonstrated,” Pompeo said after a G-7 teleconference meeting.
Senior British ministers have called for a complete review of Britain’s relationship with China, including plans for Chinese firm Huawei to build large swathes of Britain’s 5G network, a decision that Pompeo has warned would “open doors for Beijing’s spymasters.”
As of Sunday morning, the coronavirus had infected more than 19,000 people in the United Kingdom, and at least 1,228 people have died. Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced he had tested positive for the coronavirus Friday.
