TAIPEI (Reuters) – U.S. Secretary of Health Alex Azar on Tuesday responded to China’s response to the coronavirus pandemic, saying that if such an outbreak had occurred in Taiwan like the United States, it could ‘be easily sniffed out’.
US Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar sends to the media in Taipei, Taiwan, August 11, 2020. REUTERS / Ann Wang
The Trump administration has repeatedly criticized Beijing for trying to crack down on virus outbreaks, first identified in the central Chinese city of Wuhan late last year, and prevalent in sharing information. China angrily denies the allegations.
“The Chinese Communist Party had the opportunity to warn the world and work with the world to fight the virus. But they did not opt for it, and the cost of that choice is rising every day, ”Azar said in Taipei, Taiwan’s capital of self-government, an island that China claims is its own.
When the virus originated, China did not comply with its “binding” international obligations in a betrayal of the cooperative spirit necessary for global health, he added, and wore a face mask, as he did for all his public events in Taiwan.
“I do not think it is an exaggeration to say that if this virus had spread to a place like Taiwan or the United States, it might have gone out easily: report quickly to public health authorities, who have shared what they knew with health professionals and with the general public, ”said Azar.
“Instead, Beijing appears to be opposed to information sharing, doctors mice who speak out and the possibility of the world reacting.”
The United States has the highest number of coronavirus infections and deaths in the world and President Donald Trump has come under fire from critics at home for not taking what he calls the “China virus” seriously.
Taiwan has been praised by health experts for its early and effective steps to control the outbreak, with only 480 infections, including seven fatalities.
Azar arrived in Taiwan on Sunday as the highest-ranking U.S. official to visit in four decades, a trip condemned by China.
China considers Taiwan to be an emerging province and has promised to bring it under its rule, if necessary, by force.
Chinese fighters briefly crossed the median line of sensitive Taiwan Strait on Monday, and were tracked down by Taiwanese anti-aircraft missiles, part of what Taipei sees as a pattern of harassment by Beijing.
Washington broke official ties with Taipei in favor of Beijing in 1979, but is still Taiwan’s largest arms supplier. The Trump administration has made strengthening its support for the Democratic island a priority, as relations with China are strained over issues including human rights, the pandemic, Hong Kong and trade.
Azar said the world should recognize Taiwan’s health performance and not try to express it, pointing to Taiwan’s exclusion from the World Health Organization due to Chinese objections.
“This behavior is in line with Beijing’s approach to WHO and other international organizations. The influence of the PRC (People’s Republic of China) is greater than its investment in this public health institute – and it uses influence not to promote public health goals, but its own narrow political interests. ”
Both China and the WHO say Taiwan has received the help it needs during the pandemic that plagues Taiwan.
Report by Yimou Lee; Written by Ben Blanchard; Edited by Lincoln Feast and Nick Macfie
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