China
2020.03.31 20:08 GMT+8

China rejects claims it is stockpiling medical supplies, hits back at U.S. officials blaming it for COVID-19 pandemic

Updated 2020.03.31 20:08 GMT+8
CGTN

The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs has refuted claims that Beijing is stockpiling medical supplies, stressing that the Chinese authorities have assisted over 120 countries and four international organizations in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic.

The ministry's spokesperson Hua Chunying said on Tuesday China has donated medical supplies to over 50 countries and signed procurement deals with 30 nations and two international organizations.

An aircraft carrying personal protective equipment donated by China, along with U.S.-purchased medical supplies, arrived in New York on Sunday, the first of many organized by the White House over the next 30 days to fight the coronavirus.

The supplies, according to the Chinese Embassy in the U.S., consist of 12 million gloves, 130,000 N-95 masks, 1.7 million surgical masks, 50,000 gowns, 130,000 hand sanitizer units and 36,000 thermometers.

While promising to continue exporting medical supplies and providing necessary convenience to international procurement, Hua acknowledged the great pressure China is faced with in preventing the resurgence of the coronavirus.

She said that keeping the domestic situation under control is not only the priority for China, but also a great contribution to the international community.

Read more:

China calls for a global response against COVID-19

China willing to keep close communication with countries ordering epidemic prevention supplies

Hua also rejected comments by U.S. officials who blamed China for the spread of the virus in the U.S., reiterating that Beijing shared information with the international community, including Washington, in a prompt manner as early as January 3.

The efforts were highly acclaimed by the international community, said Hua, pointing out that the U.S. failed to make use of the time that China had bought for the world.

She urged the U.S. to stop using China as a scapegoat for its mistakes and focus on international cooperation to contain the outbreak.

Copyright © 

RELATED STORIES