Riyaz ul Khaliq
03 February 2020•Update: 04 February 2020
ANKARA
China on Monday criticized the U.S. for spreading fear in the wake of new coronavirus outbreak that originated in Wuhan city last December.
Foreign Ministry Spokeswomen Hua Chunying told reporters that Washington did not extend any help to Beijing in its battle against the fatal coronavirus.
“Some countries, the U.S. in particular, have inappropriately overreacted, which certainly runs counter to the World Health Organization's advice,” Hua said, adding that many countries applauded China for its efforts to stop the spread of the latest coronavirus.
The novel coronavirus, known as 2019-nCoV, has killed 361 people and infected over 17,200 people in China so far. Outside China, only one death was confirmed in the Philippines.
“The U.S. government has not provided any substantial assistance to us, but it was the first to evacuate personnel from its consulate in Wuhan, the first to suggest partial withdrawal of its embassy staff, and the first to impose a travel ban on Chinese travelers,” the official said.
“All the U.S. has done is to create and spread fear, which is a bad example.”
The outbreak has sparked panic across the globe with infections confirmed in countries, including Japan, South Korea, Thailand, the U.S., Singapore, France, Vietnam, Malaysia, Cambodia, Sri Lanka, the Philippines, India, Nepal, and Canada.
Travelers from China are being screened at airports worldwide and several airlines have suspended flights to Wuhan.
“Canada believes the entry ban has no basis, which is a sharp contrast to the U.S.' behavior,” said the Chinese spokeswoman.
“The contrast is thought provoking. I also noted that the Canadian health minister said Canada would not follow the U.S. in imposing travel restrictions on Chinese or foreign nationals who have recently been to China,” Hua added.
Japan, South Korea, U.S., Australia, Pakistan, India, France, Germany, Indonesia, and Turkey evacuated their citizens from Wuhan, the epicenter of the deadly virus.
