Coronavirus: China’s foreign ministry calls US Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross ‘unkind’ for saying outbreak will accelerate the return of jobs to the US
- Ross told an interviewer that the deadly coronavirus ‘will help accelerate the return of jobs to North America, some to the US, probably some to Mexico as well’
China’s foreign ministry has criticised as “too unkind” US Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross’ statement that the rapidly spreading coronavirus will accelerate the return of jobs from China to the United States.
“The United States acted in a diametrically opposite way right after the World Health Organisation’s declaration to oppose any move to close borders with China or restrict Chinese travellers’ access, which is too unkind and has set a very bad example [for other countries to follow],” foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said on Friday.
“A friend in need is a friend indeed. Many countries are helping China fight with the contagion through different means. In contrast, the words and deeds of the US are neither in line with the facts nor even appropriate,” she said.
During an interview with Fox Business Network’s Maria Bartiromo on Thursday, Ross said the coronavirus “does give businesses yet another thing to consider when they go through their review of their supply chain” and “companies will need to look elsewhere after halting operations in China”.
“I think it will help accelerate the return of jobs to North America, some to the US, probably some to Mexico as well,” he said.
Hua said China was sharing data and information about the deadly coronavirus with the international community, including the US, in a “transparent, responsible, and timely manner”.
The virus that started in the central China city of Wuhan has killed 213 people, all in mainland China, and sickened at least 9,934 worldwide. The diagnosed number of cases has far exceeded that of the 2002-03 Sars epidemic, which killed almost 800 people worldwide.