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| U.S. President Donald Trump listens during a press briefing with the coronavirus task force at the White House on Tuesday. AP |
By Jung Min-ho
U.S. President Donald Trump has branded COVID-19 the "Chinese virus," deepening Washington-Beijing diplomatic tensions over the outbreak.
After speaking about recession risks Monday afternoon (local time), Trump tweeted that "The United States will be powerfully supporting those industries, like airlines and others, that are particularly affected by the Chinese Virus. We will be stronger than ever before!"
His use of the term, which he repeated in his next tweet, drew criticism from Geng Shuang, a spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, who said some American politicians are trying to stigmatize China.
Asked about his use of the term at a White House press briefing the next day, Trump said it was the Chinese government that started a blame game. His comment was apparently aimed at accusations from Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian, who claimed ― without evidence ― that the U.S. military brought the virus to Wuhan.
"I didn't appreciate the fact that China was saying that our military gave it to them," Trump reportedly said. "Our military did not give it to anybody.
"China was putting out information, which was false, that our military gave this to them. That was false. And rather than having an argument, I said I had to call it where it came from. It did come from China. So, I think it's a very accurate term."
He also denied he was creating a stigma by using the term.
"No, I don't think so," he said. "I think that saying our military gave it to them creates a stigma."
Previously, Trump referred to COVID-19 as a "foreign virus."
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