China “wasted no time” in sharing information such as the genome sequence for the new virus with the World Health Organisation as well as relevant countries and regional organisations, according to the report. National Health Commission chairman Ma Xiaowei did not address the specific findings in the AP report, but said it “seriously goes against the facts”. US officials have been critical of China’s early response, adding to a deterioration of US-China relations over trade and technology and pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong. Asked how China would repair its relations with the rest of the world, vice foreign minister Ma Zhaoxu said that cooperation over the pandemic had improved ties with most other countries. Wuhan, where the first cases of the virus were detected late last year, was the hardest-hit part of China in the outbreak.

Source: Irish Independent June 07, 2020 11:03 UTC