CORONAVIRUS

China accuses US of bringing coronavirus to Wuhan

Community volunteers transfer bags of vegetables for residents in Wuhan, China
Community volunteers transfer bags of vegetables for residents in Wuhan, China
GETTY IMAGES

Beijing has suggested that coronavirus was brought to China by the US military and has claimed that Washington has something to hide.

“It might be US army who brought the epidemic to Wuhan. Be transparent!” tweeted Zhao Lijian, the foreign ministry spokesman. “Make public your data! US owe us an explanation!”

Mr Zhao was recently promoted to be a ministry spokesman after his aggressive tweets to denounce western democracies, especially the US government, won approval from the ruling party.

He offered no evidence, but said Robert Redfield, the director of the US Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, admitted some Americans initially thought to have died from the flu had contracted coronavirus.

“CDC was caught on the spot. When did patient zero begin in US?