The Chinese Foreign Ministry confirmed yesterday that the United States seeks to exercise a policy of force and unilateralism, and has become "addicted to withdrawal from gatherings and treaties." Beijing has stressed that it will respond to US attempts to harm its interests with strict countermeasures, in criticism of Washington's decision to end Hong Kong's special treatment.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Legian told reporters, in a daily briefing, that the US withdrawal from the World Health Organization reveals the United States' pursuit of a policy of power and unilateralism, stressing that the international community rejects what he described as "the selfish behavior of the United States".
"The United States has become addicted, withdrawing from rallies and abolishing treaties," Zhao added.
While US President Donald Trump recently stressed "the need for answers from China about the virus", Beijing angrily denied accusations that it reduced the seriousness of the epidemic when the pathogens appeared in central China's Wuhan late last year.
"In the face of the epidemic, any suppression or even blackmailing of the World Health Organization is a disregard for life, a challenge to humanity, and a destruction of international cooperation," the spokesman said. International call for solidarity, increased political support and funding for the organization.
Last Friday, the US President announced cutting ties with the World Health Organization, and accused the organization of becoming "a puppet of China."
The United Nations organization denied Trump's accusations that it "promoted misleading information published by China about the virus." It is noteworthy that Trump withdrew in earlier times from both the United Nations Human Rights Council and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), an international agreement to combat climate change, and the Iranian nuclear agreement, and also opposed a United Nations agreement on migration.
The US decision to withdraw from the Geneva-based World Health Organization came amid heightened tensions with China also over Hong Kong. A spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry said that his country would respond to the American attempts to harm its interests through strict countermeasures, in criticism of Washington's decision to end the special treatment for Hong Kong and take measures against Chinese students and companies. Last week, the Chinese parliament voted to press ahead with the imposition of a national security law for Hong Kong. On Friday, Trump called the move "a tragedy for the city's residents." To punish Beijing, Trump ordered his administration to start the process of canceling the US special treatment for Hong Kong, and Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Legian said that China firmly opposes the US moves. The spokesman added: "The announced measures represent a blatant interference in China's internal affairs, harm US-China relations and harm both sides."
He continued, "Any words or actions by the United States that harm China's interests will be offset by a severe counterattack from Beijing."
• “The Chinese Foreign Ministry”: “The United States has become addicted, withdrawing from rallies and canceling treaties.”