​ Trump’s virus tactic infuriating China ​

A quickly escalating blame game over the coronavirus outbreak could lead to a “new cold war” between the US and China, Chinese sources have warned. 

The global pandemic is believed to have originated in a Wuhan seafood market in December 2019 and rapidly spread throughout China’s Hubei province before officials sprung into action and locked down tens of millions of people, helping to suppress transmission.

New cases in Hubei have been in the single digits for the past seven days after a peak of several thousand in February. Temporary hospitals established to care for patients have been closed.

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However the virus has spread rapidly around the world, reaching pandemic status with at least 200,000 infections. Italy, Iran, South Korea and Spain are battling to contain major outbreaks while many nations are using social distancing to suppress the spread. Borders around the world have temporarily closed and the cancellation of flights, events and business closures is expected to create a deep global recession.

Now, a war of words over the source of the virus is the latest point of friction between Beijing and Washington.

Chinese officials have responded furiously after President Trump and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo repeatedly referred to coronavirus as a “Chinese virus” and “Wuhan virus” on Tuesday.

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