China blasts US for ‘overreaction’ to virus, spreading fear

Passengers, some wearing protective masks, waiting for their flights at the Manila's international airport Philippines on Monday (Feb 3). Precautionary measures have been tightened around the Philippines following the report of the first death of a new virus outside of China. - AP

BEIJING: China said the US has "inappropriately overreacted” to the deadly virus that originated there and hasn’t provided much help to counter the outbreak, disputing the Trump administration’s claim that it offered assistance.

"The US government hasn’t provided any substantial assistance to us, but it was the first to evacuate personnel from its consulate in Wuhan, the first to suggest partial withdrawal of its embassy staff, and the first to impose a travel ban on Chinese travellers,” Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told reporters on Monday (Feb 3).