China denies coronavirus cover-up and insists relations with rest of world have not been damaged
- Beijing publishes lengthy document defending its ‘transparency’ and ‘openness’ after reports World Health Organisation officials were frustrated by delays in releasing information
- Foreign vice-minister says relations with most countries have improved but a ‘very few’ have ‘smeared’ China and forced it to defend itself
China has said its relations with the rest of the world have not been damaged by the Covid-19 pandemic and insisted it has been transparent about the coronavirus.
Beijing released a 37,000-word white paper on Sunday highlighting its efforts to fight the disease and enhance international cooperation.
“I don’t agree with the claim that China’s relations with other countries have been negatively impacted. It’s not true,” foreign vice-minister Ma Zhaoxu told a briefing on the white paper.
“On the contrary, China’s relations with most other countries have instead been improved and strengthened after the Covid-19.
“A very few countries have gone against the tide of history and insanely launched a smear campaign against China, fabricating rumours and spreading the political virus with every possible means. China has no other choice but to fight back against this kind of blame-shifting.”
The document was released amid a global backlash over delays in sharing information and censoring reports of the disease, which has now spread around the world infecting millions and killing hundreds of thousands.