China’s top diplomats ramp up defence of Beijing amid coronavirus crisis

Foreign minister and envoys to United States and United Nations try to shift blame and lash out at ‘overreaction’ of other countries

Observers say efforts to fend off criticism of Communist Party and Xi Jinping may do little to help ease public anger and concerns

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China’s ambassador to the US Cui Tiankai said openness and transparency was one of Beijing’s “basic principles”. Photo: Reuters

Published: 8:30pm, 16 Feb 2020Updated: 11:00pm, 16 Feb 2020

Chinese diplomats have stepped up their rhetoric against criticism of Beijing’s handling of the coronavirus outbreak, which has spiralled from a public health nightmare to a political crisis.

In the past few days, Foreign Minister Wang Yi and other senior diplomats, including China’s top envoys to the United States and the United Nations, have spoken publicly at international meetings and in media interviews as the country grapples with the epidemic.

But observers said their assertive efforts to fend off criticism of the ruling Communist Party and President Xi Jinping may do little to ease mounting grievances at home, or to quell suspicion that Beijing was not being open and transparent.

They said discord between Beijing and Washington over tackling the epidemic could further complicate already tense bilateral ties, and that may have implications for China’s relations with other countries.

There is growing public anger over the handling of the coronavirus outbreak in China. Photo: AFP

Chinese ambassador to Washington Cui Tiankai on Friday tried to shift blame from the central government and Xi for the delayed response to the outbreak, which has killed more than 1,600 people and infected over 68,000 since it began in December.

“When they talk about government, there are different levels of government in China, like in the United States. So you cannot talk in very general terms about the government,” Cui told American broadcaster National Public Radio in an interview.