Chinese and US defence chiefs discuss coronavirus crisis in phone call
- Country’s fight against the disease a ‘total war’ involving all people, Wei Fenghe says
- Mark Esper expresses willingness to boost exchanges on epidemic control and prevention
China’s Defence Minister Wei Fenghe told his US counterpart Mark Esper that the country’s ongoing fight against the deadly disease was a “total war” that involved all people, according to a statement from the Chinese defence ministry.
Wei also said there was a continuing positive trend in the disease control situation.
Esper said he appreciated the efforts that China and its military had made to control the disease, according to the statement. The US secretary of defence also expressed a willingness for closer dialogue and consultation between the two militaries, and to strengthen exchanges and cooperation on epidemic control and prevention.
There were no further details of the discussion, but observers said the coronavirus epidemic was highlighted because it had become a threat to both nations, and the defence chiefs would have discussed the People’s Liberation Army efforts to contain the outbreak in China. But mutual suspicion between Beijing and Washington over their security, ideological and trade disputes made it unlikely the two militaries would work together on the crisis.
