The differences spilled into public view yesterday after China's ambassador to the US reaffirmed his opposition to promoting theories that the virus that causes Covid-19 originated in an American military lab. Cui's comments represent a sharp public rebuke to foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian, who has publicly questioned whether the virus originated in China and even touted the idea that it may have been introduced by US Army athletes. The developments suggest that China's foreign ministry may be having second thoughts about taking a more confrontational approach toward President Donald Trump. Another spokesman, Geng Shuang, told reporters "the virus should not be linked to a specific country or region to avoid stigmatization." Trump has taken to calling the pathogen the "Chinese virus" and has blamed the US outbreak on China's early failures to control the disease.

Source: The Standard March 23, 2020 19:07 UTC