BEIJING: China has called on the international community to crack down on disinformation over the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic, saying the lies and rumors against China seriously poisoned global antivirus efforts. Foreign Ministry spokesman Hua Chunying said at a routine press briefing that recent days had seen an increase in disinformation on Covid-19, especially lies and rumors against China, which had severely poisoned international efforts. “Facts have shown that the novel coronavirus is the common enemy of mankind, but what’s more horrible than the virus are disinformation, rumors and slanders spread by people with ulterior motives,” she added. She said the “political virus” is also a common enemy of all mankind and the international community should adopt a united stance against disinformation and disinfect the cyberspace so that rumors, slanders and other forms of the political virus and their spreaders will never be able to find a foothold. The United Nations has pointed out in an article that unreliable information is hurting the global effort to defeat the Covid-19 pandemic.

Source: Manila Times June 10, 2020 18:11 UTC