China goes on the attack in response to Donald Trump’s UN speech

Barb-trading between the two powers on coronavirus and climate change overshadows United Nations General Assembly

After US president slams China over pandemic, Chinese ambassador accuses him of undermining the international organisation

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US President Donald Trump’s prerecorded address to the 75th General Assembly of the United Nations has attracted a strong response from China. Photo: Handout

Published: 11:30am, 23 Sep 2020Updated: 11:30am, 23 Sep 2020

China has hit back at US President Donald Trump’s fierce accusations at the United Nations over Beijing’s coronavirus response and environmental record, as tensions between the powers overshadowed the high-profile meetings.

Zhang Jun, China’s ambassador to the UN, said on Wednesday the US had abused the organisation’s platform to spread “groundless accusations”, in response to Trump’s address at the General Assembly calling for accountability after China “unleashed this plague onto the world” and slamming the World Health Organization (WHO) as being “virtually controlled by China”.

Zhang said China held a “open, transparent and responsible attitude” during the outbreak, while the US – which saw its coronavirus death toll top 200,000 on Tuesday – was a “complete failure”.

“The US noise is incompatible with the general atmosphere of the General Assembly,” he said. “When the international community needs a strong United Nations, the United States is weakening the UN, the WHO and other UN bodies, and undermining the authority and effectiveness of the UN.”

Zhang also highlighted Chinese President Xi Jinping’s remarks on Tuesday after Trump spoke, during which Beijing announced goals for its carbon emissions to peak in 2030 and to achieve carbon neutrality before 2060.