'Adding Fuel to China's Responsibility Debate'... Trump, Tense Over Infection News of Zhong

US-China COVID-19 Responsibility Dispute Shifts to New Phase
Growing Calls for China’s Accountability Led by US Republicans
"Paid the Price for Gambling," Global Times Editor Deletes Tweet
China Likely Anxious Over US Political Public Opinion

[Asia Economy Reporter Naju-seok] China became tense over U.S. President Donald Trump's contraction of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19). This is because a huge dark cloud has been cast over the already strained U.S.-China relations. In the U.S. political sphere, the theory holding China responsible for COVID-19 is becoming more prominent.

On the 3rd (local time), CNN reported that China is becoming tense as President Trump, who had asserted China's responsibility for COVID-19, himself became infected. President Trump had emphasized China's responsibility over the past several months regarding the issue of accountability for the global spread of COVID-19. He argued that China’s initial failure to respond to COVID-19 caused the whole world to be in trouble.

Donald Trump, the President of the United States, who tested positive for the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), arrived on the 2nd (local time) at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Maryland near Washington DC for hospitalization and is getting off the presidential helicopter 'Marine One'. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Regarding the China responsibility theory raised by President Trump, China has countered with a U.S. responsibility theory, claiming that the U.S. worsened the situation by failing to respond properly. Many countries close to China experienced COVID-19 earlier, but the damage was not severe because they responded better compared to the U.S.

The COVID-19 responsibility dispute between the U.S. and China, which had been a back-and-forth battle of "If China had responded well, this problem would not have occurred" and "It is because the U.S. failed to respond properly," entered a completely different phase following President Trump's diagnosis. CNN analyzed that China, which has prioritized stability above all, likely views President Trump's COVID-19 diagnosis as a factor threatening that stability.

Initially, Chinese officials, upon learning that President Trump contracted COVID-19, made remarks suggesting it was his karmic retribution. They implied that President Trump bore original sin for asserting China's responsibility for COVID-19 or for worsening U.S.-China relations. Especially on October 1, China’s National Day, the fact that President Trump contracted COVID-19 was even called a "gift timed for China's National Day," gaining popularity on China's version of Twitter, Weibo.

"Paid the price for gambling" Global Times editor-in-chief deletes tweet

Also, Hu Xijin, editor-in-chief of the Global Times, known as the mouthpiece of the Chinese Communist Party, posted on Twitter, "President Trump and the First Lady have paid the price for gambling lightly with COVID-19," adding, "The news that the presidential couple tested positive shows the seriousness of the COVID-19 pandemic in the U.S."

However, Hu soon deleted the post. CNN reported that it is unclear whether Hu deleted the tweet based on personal judgment or under instructions from higher authorities.

Afterward, Hu retweeted the Chinese government's official stance on President Trump's COVID-19 infection via Twitter. The tweet expressed regret over the president and first lady's COVID-19 diagnosis and wished for their speedy recovery.

CNN observed that China is controlling domestic public opinion regarding President Trump's COVID-19 infection and sees reasons for China to be tense about the president's diagnosis. It suggested that the diagnosis could highlight China's responsibility for COVID-19 within the U.S. and warned that this could become an issue in this year's presidential election agenda.

Regardless of the Chinese government's cautious response, a hardline stance against China is already rising within the U.S. Republican Senator Kelly Loeffler stated on Twitter, "China sent the virus to our president," adding, "We must hold them accountable." Republican Representative Mark Walker questioned at the House Government and Anti-Terrorism Subcommittee, "Is it fair to conclude that China officially influenced the U.S. presidential election?"

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