ترومڤ: اي اداله ءۏيروس چيناء، سبب داتڠ دري چينا. اين بوكن راسيس
#TTFCovid19: United States president Donald Trump has defended repeatedly calling the Covid-19 causing Coronavirus the “Chinese virus,” ignoring criticism that the term is stigmatising and racist.
Responding to a reporter who told him people considered it racist, Trump said, “It’s not racist at all, it comes from China, that’s why.”
It all began with a tweet by the US president on the 16th of March 2020, which read:
“The United States will be powerfully supporting those industries, like Airlines and others, that are particularly affected by the Chinese Virus. We will be stronger than ever before!”
United States president Donald Trump has defended repeatedly calling the Covid-19 causing Coronavirus the “Chinese virus,” ignoring criticism that the term is stigmatising and racist.
Responding to a reporter who told him people considered it racist, Trump said, “It’s not racist at all, it comes from China, that’s why.”
Trump has religiously maintained use of the term since mid-March, escalating an already deepening US-China diplomatic spat over the outbreak.
When asked if he thought that using the term ‘Chinese virus’ would put Asian-Americans at risk, Trump said, “No, not at all.”
“I think they probably would agree with it 100 percent. It comes from China.”
It all began with a tweet by the US president on the 16th of March 2020, which read:
“The United States will be powerfully supporting those industries, like Airlines and others, that are particularly affected by the Chinese Virus. We will be stronger than ever before!”
In sharp retaliation, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang said, “Some US politicians have tried to stigmatise China … which China strongly condemns. We urge the US to stop this despicable practice. We are very angry and strongly oppose it [the tweet].”
A week prior to that, Zhao Lijian from China’s foreign affairs ministry had accused the US military of bringing the virus to Wuhan.
This caused the Trump administration to summon Chinese ambassador Cui Tiankai and issue a “stern” warning.
But that didn’t stop the blame game.
On the same day Trump tweeted “Chinese Virus,” US secretary of state Mike Pompeo spoke directly to top Chinese diplomat Yang Jiechi and expressed America’s objections.”
According to reports, Yang responded with similar objections to attempts by the US to “slander and smear” China’s efforts in combatting the virus.
THE THIRD FORCE
