Covid 19: Trump angers Beijing with 'Chinese virus' tweet

What did Donald Trump say?The US president sent a tweet on Monday describing the coronavirus - which causes the disease Covid-19 - as the "Chinese virusÔÇØ.The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned against linking the virus to any particular area or group, due to the risk of stigmatisation.However, a number of US administration officials have referred to it as the Chinese virus. Meanwhile, Mr Pompeo has repeatedly referred to the "Wuhan virusÔÇØ.What was the reaction?Geng Shuang, a spokesman for the Chinese foreign ministry, said the tweet amount to "stigmatisation of ChinaÔÇØ."We urge the US to correct its mistake and stop its groundless accusations against China,ÔÇØ he added.China's official news agency, Xinhua, said Mr Trump's language was "racist and xenophobicÔÇØ and revealed "politicians' irresponsibility and incompetenceÔÇØ, risking increasing fears over the virus.There was also criticism from within the US, with New York's Mayor Bill de Blasio saying the phrase risked "fuelling more bigotryÔÇØ against Asian-Americans.

What are China-US relations like now?They have a strained relationship.President Trump has long accused China of unfair trading practices and intellectual property theft while, in China, there is a perception that the US is trying to curb its rise as a global economic power.The two have been engaged in a bitter trade war, which saw the US and China impose tariffs on hundreds of billions of dollars' worth of one another's goods.That appeared to be easing earlier this year as the virus outbreak took hold, with a partial resolution reached in January.

News Source