BEIJING-- China on Thursday refuted several United States intelligence officials' accusations that China concealed the extent of the coronavirus epidemic and under-reported the number of the COVID-19 cases and deaths, and noted that such remarks were "shameless and immoral."
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying made the comments at a news briefing when answering a relevant question.
"China has been giving open, transparent and timely updates to the world as demonstrated clearly in the details my colleagues and I have elaborated on China's response many times," Hua said.
On international public health security, it is the World Health Organization (WHO) and experts on epidemiology and disease control who are entitled to make judgement, rather than several politicians who are habitual liars, Hua said.
Bruce Aylward, an epidemiologist who led an advance team from the World Health Organization (WHO), speaks during a press conference of the China-WHO joint expert team in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 24, 2020. | Xinhua/Xing Guangli
She said a senior WHO official on Wednesday refuted unjustified accusations against China's epidemic data at a press conference in Geneva.
China has always been open, transparent and responsible in all its efforts, Hua said. "The decisive and strong measures taken by the Chinese government ensured to the highest possible extent the life, safety and health of the Chinese people and bought precious time for stemming the global spread of the virus."
"We understand that the United States is facing difficulties and some U.S. officials are under pressure, and we feel deeply for the hardship of the American people," Hua said. "Out of humanitarian spirit, we would like to provide help and support within our capability to the United States in the fight against the pandemic."
Medical area of the temporary hospital is seen at Jacob K. Javits Center in New York, the United States, March 30, 2020. | Guang Yu/Handout via Xinhua
However, Hua said the remarks by these few U.S. politicians are just shameless and immoral. "Slandering, smearing and blaming cannot make up for lost time and more lies will only waste more time and lead to more lives lost."
"We advise these politicians that, at this moment, they should put the safety of people's lives and health before politics," Hua said. "It is immoral and inhumane to continue to politicize public health issue, which should be condemned by all people of the world, including people of the United States."
