China Opposes Trump... "Trump Administration Must Be Made Harder" (Comprehensive)

Chinese State Media, "Trump's Position Must Be Weakened"
Democratic Governors Accused of Direct Medical Equipment Deals

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Young-shin] In relation to the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) pandemic, U.S. President Donald Trump and the White House have been continuously attacking China. Warnings are emerging within China that U.S.-China relations will become even more confrontational.

Peter Navarro, the White House's leading hardliner on China and Director of Trade and Manufacturing Policy, harshly criticized the Chinese government in an interview with Fox News on the 19th (local time), saying, "China is exporting medical supplies at absurd prices and profiting from it." He added, "Masks made in China costing 50 cents are being sold at $8 in American hospitals," raising the level of criticism by stating, "China has monopolized the market for personal protective equipment (PPE) such as masks and gloves."

He particularly touched on a sensitive issue by mentioning that the origin of the COVID-19 virus from China is not a market but a laboratory. Navarro said, "Health experts mention the possibility that the COVID-19 virus was transmitted from animals to humans, but I believe it originated from a laboratory in Wuhan, China," and insisted, "The Chinese government must prove otherwise."

His remarks came following comments by President Trump. Because of this, there is an interpretation that the White House is placing weight on holding China responsible. On the previous day, the 18th, President Trump warned that if China had 'deliberate responsibility' knowing about COVID-19 and still allowed it to spread, it would face corresponding consequences.

The South China Morning Post (SCMP) expressed concern on the 20th that the ongoing U.S. criticism of China could lead to a worsening of U.S.-China relations.

Victor Gao, Deputy Director of the China Center for International Affairs, said in an interview with SCMP, "No one has the right to blame China. Prejudice and narrow-mindedness are as bad as COVID-19," indirectly criticizing the U.S. government's distrust.

Voices within China calling for a more active counterattack by the Chinese government are also growing. Hu Xijin, editor-in-chief of the Chinese state-run Global Times, said, "China should take measures to make the Trump administration even more difficult." He argued that emergency medical equipment should be exported to state governments rather than the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The idea is to directly deal with state governments led by Democratic governors, such as New York, to weaken President Trump's domestic standing.

Ryu Weidong, a researcher at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences' Institute of American Studies, expressed concern, saying, "The White House seems uninterested in solving global challenges such as COVID-19 and climate change," and "Hope for U.S.-China joint efforts to address global challenges is fading." Liang Yunxiang, a professor at Peking University, also expressed concern, saying, "Strategic competition between China and the U.S. will continue."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.