China Monday rebutted U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's attempt to denigrate China's efforts in fighting the COVID-19 epidemic, saying its contribution to outbreak prevention has been well recognized around the world.

Pompeo attributed the spread of the COVID-19 epidemic in the U.S. to the non-transparency of the Chinese government regarding information-sharing, accusing China if "putting the U.S. behind the curve."

The comments were rejected by Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang who insisted that China has been very open and transparent in releasing information to the international community.

According to Geng, China maintains close communication and cooperation with the World Health Organization (WHO) and other countries. Its comprehensive and strict preventative measures not only defended the life, safety and health of Chinese citizens but also prevented the rapid spread of the epidemic globally, he said.

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Apart from blaming the Chinese government, Pompeo also ignored the official name of the virus, calling it the "Wuhan virus." Geng condemned the Secretary of State's remarks as irresponsible, saying his "plot" to use COVID-19 to denigrate China will not succeed.

As of Monday, the disease has affected more than 30 American states and the District of Columbia, with at least 554 confirmed cases and 22 deaths.