China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Zhao Lijian on Wednesday denounced the COVID-19 Accountability Act introduced by U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham that would grant U.S. President Donald Trump the authorization to "impose sanctions on China if China fails to cooperate and provide a full accounting of the events leading up to the outbreak of COVID-19."

Zhao said that the legislation overlooked the facts. It is immoral and is an effort to blame China for the spread of the coronavirus in the country. 

China has always been transparent in its fight against the COVID-19 pandemic and has worked closely with the World Health Organization (WHO), said Zhao. The world has seen China's contribution to containing the global pandemic.

He also clarified during the press briefing that there are no so-called "wildlife wet markets" in China. "China has some live poultry markets, farmers' markets, or seafood markets, which are not banned by international law," he said. 

Noting that these markets in China are not wildlife markets, Zhao said China has started legislating on banning the illegal hunt, trade, transportation, or consumption of wildlife.

Zhao urged the U.S. administration to stop attacking China and instead focus on protecting the safety of its own citizens and contribute more to global cooperation in controlling the virus. 

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