Connection of virus with China is stigmatization: Foreign Ministry spokesman

Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang on Tuesday said that some US politicians' connection of the novel coronavirus with China is stigmatization, which China strongly condemns and firmly opposes.

He made the remark when asked to respond to United States President Donald Trump's earlier tweet that referred to COVID-19 as "Chinese virus".

"We urge the US side immediately to correct its mistake and stop groundless accusations of China," he said, noting that the World Health Organization and the international community have explicitly opposed connecting the virus with a certain country or region.

Given that the epidemic is spreading across the world, Geng said the top priority now is cooperation in combating the virus.

The US should mind its own business first and meanwhile play a constructive role in international epidemic cooperation and safeguard global public health safety, he added.