A Chinese government campaign to cast doubt on the origin of the coronavirus pandemic is fuelling a row with the United States, with a Beijing official promoting conspiracy theories and Washington calling it the "Wuhan virus".

The spat comes as China tries to deflect blame for the contagion and reframe itself as a country that took decisive steps to buy the world time by placing huge swathes of its population under quarantine.

With cases falling in China and soaring abroad, Beijing is now rejecting the widely held assessment that the city of Wuhan is the birthplace of the outbreak.

Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/coronavirus-can-live-in-infected-people-for-weeks-longer-than-first-thought-286046">Coronavirus can live in infected people for weeks longer than first thought</a>

Foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian went a step further on Thursday, saying on Twitter that "it might be US army who brought the epidemic to Wuhan," without providing evidence.

He doubled down on his claim on Friday by posting a link to an article from a website known for publishing conspiracy theories about the 9/11 attacks.

Censors usually vigilant against rumours have also allowed Chinese social media users to spread similar claims about the US being behind the virus.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/coronavirus-pandemic-governments-across-the-world-shutting-down-offices-for-disinfection-286000">Coronavirus pandemic: Governments across the world shutting down offices for disinfection</a>

A video showing a US health official saying some flu victims were posthumously diagnosed as having had COVID-19 was among the top searched items on China's Twitter-like Weibo this week, with some users saying it was evidence the virus originated in the US.

Zhao posted the clip on Twitter.

Dali Yang, a political science professor at the University of Chicago, said he believes Zhao was "tweeting in his official capacity".

Also read: <a href="wionews.com/world/covid-19-brazilian-government-aide-who-met-us-president-donald-trump-tests-positive-286050">COVID-19: Brazilian government aide who met US President Donald Trump tests positive</a>

China's intention in promoting the conspiracy theory is "to divert from domestic discontent" over the handling of the outbreak, which has killed more than 3,100 people in the country.

The push to question the origin of the disease contradicts China's own initial assessment about the source of the virus, which has now killed nearly 5,000 people worldwide.

Gao Fu, head of China's Center for Disease Control and Prevention, said in January "we now know the source of the virus is wild animals sold at the seafood market" in Wuhan.

Chinese authorities themselves saw Wuhan and the rest of Hubei province as a threat as they placed the region of 56 million people under strict quarantine to contain the epidemic.

But Beijing began sowing doubts in late February, when Zhong Nanshan, a respected expert affiliated with the National Health Commission, told reporters "the epidemic first appeared in China, but didn't necessarily originate in China."

Scientists, however, have long suspected that the virus jumped from an animal at the Wuhan market to a human before spreading globally.

The World Health Organization has said that while the exact path the virus took between its animal source and humans is still unclear, COVID-19 was "unknown before the outbreak began in Wuhan, China, in December 2019".

Christl Donnelly, a professor of statistical epidemiology at Imperial College London, said genetic analysis of coronavirus samples collected from around the world shows a common ancestor in China,&nbsp;

"This is not in any way blaming a particular country," she told AFP.

The United States, meanwhile, has angered China by using language to directly link the virus to the country.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has called it the "Wuhan virus", prompting China's foreign ministry to reject the term as "despicable" and "disrespecting science".

Despite the protests, US President Donald Trump started a televised address to his nation on Wednesday by speaking about the outbreak "that started in China".

The WHO warns against naming infectious diseases in a way that encourages discrimination against ethnic groups.

The Trump administration's emphasis on the virus' origin in China is "part of his dog-whistling politics," said Australian National University researcher Yun Jiang.

Robert O'Brien, the US national security adviser, on Wednesday insisted that the virus originated in Wuhan.

Blaming the pandemic on an initial lack of cooperation from Chinese officials and a cover-up when the outbreak first emerged, O'Brien said this had "cost the world community two months to respond" to the threat.

Beijing called his remarks "extremely immoral and also irresponsible".

China's objections have extended to criticising anyone suggesting the virus originated in the country.

Zhao said last week that journalists using the term "China virus" was "suggesting its origin without any supporting facts or evidence" and had "ulterior motives."

Jiang, the researcher, said that "by sowing doubts into people's mind about where the virus originated, they're trying to deflect part of the blame for the outbreak".

A Chinese government campaign to cast doubt on the origin of the coronavirus pandemic is fuelling a row with the United States, with a Beijing official promoting conspiracy theories and Washington calling it the "Wuhan virus".

A Chinese government campaign to cast doubt on the origin of the coronavirus pandemic is fuelling a row with the United States, with a Beijing official promoting conspiracy theories and Washington calling it the "Wuhan virus". The spat comes as China tries to deflect blame for the contagion and reframe itself as a country that took decisive steps to buy the world time by placing huge swathes of its population under quarantine. With cases falling in China and soaring abroad, Beijing is now rejecting the widely held assessment that the city of Wuhan is the birthplace of the outbreak. Also read: Coronavirus can live in infected people for weeks longer than first thought Foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian went a step further on Thursday, saying on Twitter that "it might be US army who brought the epidemic to Wuhan," without providing evidence. He doubled down on his claim on Friday by posting a link to an article from a website known for publishing conspiracy theories about the 9/11 attacks. Censors usually vigilant against rumours have also allowed Chinese social media users to spread similar claims about the US being behind the virus. Also read: Coronavirus pandemic: Governments across the world shutting down offices for disinfection A video showing a US health official saying some flu victims were posthumously diagnosed as having had COVID-19 was among the top searched items on China's Twitter-like Weibo this week, with some users saying it was evidence the virus originated in the US. Zhao posted the clip on Twitter. Dali Yang, a political science professor at the University of Chicago, said he believes Zhao was "tweeting in his official capacity". Also read: COVID-19: Brazilian government aide who met US President Donald Trump tests positive China's intention in promoting the conspiracy theory is "to divert from domestic discontent" over the handling of the outbreak, which has killed more than 3,100 people in the country. The push to question the origin of the disease contradicts China's own initial assessment about the source of the virus, which has now killed nearly 5,000 people worldwide. Gao Fu, head of China's Center for Disease Control and Prevention, said in January "we now know the source of the virus is wild animals sold at the seafood market" in Wuhan. Chinese authorities themselves saw Wuhan and the rest of Hubei province as a threat as they placed the region of 56 million people under strict quarantine to contain the epidemic. But Beijing began sowing doubts in late February, when Zhong Nanshan, a respected expert affiliated with the National Health Commission, told reporters "the epidemic first appeared in China, but didn't necessarily originate in China." Scientists, however, have long suspected that the virus jumped from an animal at the Wuhan market to a human before spreading globally. The World Health Organization has said that while the exact path the virus took between its animal source and humans is still unclear, COVID-19 was "unknown before the outbreak began in Wuhan, China, in December 2019". Christl Donnelly, a professor of statistical epidemiology at Imperial College London, said genetic analysis of coronavirus samples collected from around the world shows a common ancestor in China, "This is not in any way blaming a particular country," she told AFP. The United States, meanwhile, has angered China by using language to directly link the virus to the country. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has called it the "Wuhan virus", prompting China's foreign ministry to reject the term as "despicable" and "disrespecting science". Despite the protests, US President Donald Trump started a televised address to his nation on Wednesday by speaking about the outbreak "that started in China". The WHO warns against naming infectious diseases in a way that encourages discrimination against ethnic groups. The Trump administration's emphasis on the virus' origin in China is "part of his dog-whistling politics," said Australian National University researcher Yun Jiang. Robert O'Brien, the US national security adviser, on Wednesday insisted that the virus originated in Wuhan. Blaming the pandemic on an initial lack of cooperation from Chinese officials and a cover-up when the outbreak first emerged, O'Brien said this had "cost the world community two months to respond" to the threat. Beijing called his remarks "extremely immoral and also irresponsible". China's objections have extended to criticising anyone suggesting the virus originated in the country. Zhao said last week that journalists using the term "China virus" was "suggesting its origin without any supporting facts or evidence" and had "ulterior motives." Jiang, the researcher, said that "by sowing doubts into people's mind about where the virus originated, they're trying to deflect part of the blame for the outbreak".

Blame game for pandemic: China, US spar over origin of coronavirus

President Xi Jinping visited the city of Wuhan, the centre of the coronavirus outbreak, sending a message that Beijing has the situation under control. His visit comes as China recorded its lowest number of infections, just 19 on Tuesday, all in Wuhan apart from two who had arrived from overseas. Watch WION Ground Report:

WION Ground Report: Xi Jinping visits Wuhan since Coronavirus outbreak

Xi Jinping paid his first visit to Wuhan after the coronavirus outbreak. The Chinese President's visit was supposed to signal that the health crisis in under control. But, did the Wuhan tour really achieve its purpose? This report tells you more.

Coronavirus: Xi Jinping visits Wuhan for the first time | Gravitas

The disease’s spread in China cast scrutiny on Xi’s leadership, as he was conspicuously absent from the public eye during the early days of the crisis.

Xi Jinping visits Wuhan as COVID-19 outbreak fades

Xi Jinping's first Wuhan visit since Coronavirus Outbreak

China should replace its ambassador in the Czech Republic after the Chinese embassy sent a threatening letter to Czech authorities, Prime Minister Andrej Babis said, a position that may further strain relations between the two countries.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-coronavirus-xi-jinping-pays-first-visit-to-virus-epicentre-wuhan-285400" hreflang="en">China coronavirus: Xi Jinping pays first visit to virus epicentre Wuhan</a>

In January, China's embassy in Prague said in a letter sent to the Czech president's office that Beijing would retaliate against Czech companies operating in China if a senior Czech lawmaker went ahead with a planned visit to Taiwan.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-firm-develops-system-to-recognise-faces-behind-coronavirus-masks-285231" hreflang="en">China firm develops system to recognise faces behind coronavirus masks</a>

The January&nbsp;10 letters suggested that Czech companies operating in mainland China, such as the Volkswagen subsidiary Skoda Auto and lender Home Credit Group, would suffer if then-Senate speaker Jaroslav Kubera visited the island.

Kubera died before he could make the trip. His successor, Milos Vystrcil, is likely to push for China to replace the ambassador, and Babis would support such a demand, Czech Television reported.

"This man is quite distinctive, and what he has written, that is absolutely unacceptable, we must reject that," Czech Television quoted Babis as saying.

Four top Czech officials, including President Milos Zeman, who has pushed for closer ties with China in recent years, will meet on Wednesday for a regular debate on foreign policy, where they are expected to address the matter.

Diplomatic ties between the two countries cooled last year when city authorities in Prague showed support for Tibet and demanded changes to an intercity partnership agreement with Beijing over a reference to China's policy on Taiwan.

China quit the agreement and Prague instead entered a partnership with Taipei, the capital of Taiwan. China considers Taiwan part of its territory and has pushed for a "one country, two systems" model, which Taiwan rejects. Babis's government has repeatedly said it adheres to the one-China policy.

In a statement on Tuesday, Taiwan's foreign ministry said that despite China's threats it would continue to deepen exchanges and cooperation with the Czech Republic.

An earlier dent in bilateral relations came in December 2018 when the Czech cyber-security watchdog warned about the risks of using network technology provided by Chinese telecoms equipment makers Huawei and ZTE.

China should replace its ambassador in the Czech Republic after the Chinese embassy sent a threatening letter to Czech authorities, Prime Minister Andrej Babis said, a position that may further strain relations between the two countries.

China should replace its ambassador in the Czech Republic after the Chinese embassy sent a threatening letter to Czech authorities, Prime Minister Andrej Babis said, a position that may further strain relations between the two countries. Also read: China coronavirus: Xi Jinping pays first visit to virus epicentre Wuhan In January, China's embassy in Prague said in a letter sent to the Czech president's office that Beijing would retaliate against Czech companies operating in China if a senior Czech lawmaker went ahead with a planned visit to Taiwan. Also read: China firm develops system to recognise faces behind coronavirus masks The January 10 letters suggested that Czech companies operating in mainland China, such as the Volkswagen subsidiary Skoda Auto and lender Home Credit Group, would suffer if then-Senate speaker Jaroslav Kubera visited the island. Kubera died before he could make the trip. His successor, Milos Vystrcil, is likely to push for China to replace the ambassador, and Babis would support such a demand, Czech Television reported. "This man is quite distinctive, and what he has written, that is absolutely unacceptable, we must reject that," Czech Television quoted Babis as saying. Four top Czech officials, including President Milos Zeman, who has pushed for closer ties with China in recent years, will meet on Wednesday for a regular debate on foreign policy, where they are expected to address the matter. Diplomatic ties between the two countries cooled last year when city authorities in Prague showed support for Tibet and demanded changes to an intercity partnership agreement with Beijing over a reference to China's policy on Taiwan. China quit the agreement and Prague instead entered a partnership with Taipei, the capital of Taiwan. China considers Taiwan part of its territory and has pushed for a "one country, two systems" model, which Taiwan rejects. Babis's government has repeatedly said it adheres to the one-China policy. In a statement on Tuesday, Taiwan's foreign ministry said that despite China's threats it would continue to deepen exchanges and cooperation with the Czech Republic. An earlier dent in bilateral relations came in December 2018 when the Czech cyber-security watchdog warned about the risks of using network technology provided by Chinese telecoms equipment makers Huawei and ZTE.

Czech prime minister says China's ambassador should be replaced

China will step up policy adjustments to help cushion the blow on the economy from a coronavirus outbreak that authorities are still trying to control, President Xi Jinping was quoted as saying on Sunday.

The situation is showing a positive trend after arduous efforts but there is no room for "weariness and relaxed mentality" among officials, state television quoted him as saying.

"At present, the epidemic situation is still severe and complex, and prevention and control work is in the most difficult and critical stage," Xi said.

"The outbreak of novel coronavirus pneumonia will inevitably have a relatively big impact on the economy and society," Xi said, adding that the impact would be short-term and controllable.

Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/coronavirus-is-chinas-biggest-health-emergency-president-xi-jinping-282217">Coronavirus is China's 'biggest health emergency' - President Xi Jinping</a>

The outbreak is one of the most serious public health crises to confront Chinese leaders in decades.

"For us, this is a crisis and is also a big test," Xi said.

Chinese policymakers have implemented a raft of measures to support an economy jolted by the virus, which is expected to have a devastating impact on first-quarter growth.

Low-risk provinces should focus on restoring work and production in an all-round way, provinces with medium-level risks should aim for an orderly work resumption, while high-risk regions should focus on epidemic controls, Xi said.

The government would step up policy support to help achieve economic and social development targets for 2020, Xi said.

China would maintain a prudent monetary policy and roll out new policy steps in a timely way, he said, adding the government would also study and roll out phased tax cuts to help tide small firms over difficulties.

The government would also take steps to support flexible employment and help college graduates to find jobs, Xi added.

China will step up policy adjustments to help cushion the blow on the economy from a coronavirus outbreak that authorities are still trying to control, President Xi Jinping was quoted as saying on Sunday.

China will step up policy adjustments to help cushion the blow on the economy from a coronavirus outbreak that authorities are still trying to control, President Xi Jinping was quoted as saying on Sunday. The situation is showing a positive trend after arduous efforts but there is no room for "weariness and relaxed mentality" among officials, state television quoted him as saying. "At present, the epidemic situation is still severe and complex, and prevention and control work is in the most difficult and critical stage," Xi said. "The outbreak of novel coronavirus pneumonia will inevitably have a relatively big impact on the economy and society," Xi said, adding that the impact would be short-term and controllable. Also read: Coronavirus is China's 'biggest health emergency' - President Xi Jinping The outbreak is one of the most serious public health crises to confront Chinese leaders in decades. "For us, this is a crisis and is also a big test," Xi said. Chinese policymakers have implemented a raft of measures to support an economy jolted by the virus, which is expected to have a devastating impact on first-quarter growth. Low-risk provinces should focus on restoring work and production in an all-round way, provinces with medium-level risks should aim for an orderly work resumption, while high-risk regions should focus on epidemic controls, Xi said. The government would step up policy support to help achieve economic and social development targets for 2020, Xi said. China would maintain a prudent monetary policy and roll out new policy steps in a timely way, he said, adding the government would also study and roll out phased tax cuts to help tide small firms over difficulties. The government would also take steps to support flexible employment and help college graduates to find jobs, Xi added.

China braces for inevitable big hit to economy from coronavirus: Xi

Chinese President Xi Jinping has written a letter expressing thanks to the Bill &amp; Melinda Gates Foundation for the organisation's "generosity" and support tackling a deadly virus epidemic, state media said Saturday.

The outbreak of the new COVID-19 strain has claimed 2,345 lives in mainland China and infected more than 76,000 people, with cases in more than 25 countries.

Earlier this month the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation committed up to $100 million for the global response to the outbreak.

"I deeply appreciate the act of generosity of the Bill &amp; Melinda Gates Foundation and your letter of solidarity to the Chinese people at such an important moment," Xi wrote in the letter, according to official news agency Xinhua.

China is at a "critical moment" in the fight against the outbreak, he said.

Millions remain under lockdown in central Hubei province, where the virus emerged in December, although new hotspots were found in several prisons and hospitals on Friday.

Nearly 400 new cases were reported nationwide in China on Saturday -- less than half the number of new cases the previous day.

"We have rallied the whole nation and adopted a string of unprecedented measures to contain and mitigate the epidemic and treat the sick," Xi wrote.&nbsp;

"These extraordinary measures are delivering substantial results," he said.

The Gates Foundation said the funding will be used to strengthen detection, isolation and treatment efforts, including protecting at-risk populations and developing vaccines and diagnostics.

The foundation said it would direct $20 million to organizations like the World Health Organization, the US Centers for Disease Control and Protection, the National Health Commission of China and the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has written a letter expressing thanks to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for the organisation's "generosity" and support tackling a deadly virus epidemic, state media said Saturday.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has written a letter expressing thanks to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for the organisation's "generosity" and support tackling a deadly virus epidemic, state media said Saturday. The outbreak of the new COVID-19 strain has claimed 2,345 lives in mainland China and infected more than 76,000 people, with cases in more than 25 countries. Earlier this month the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation committed up to $100 million for the global response to the outbreak. "I deeply appreciate the act of generosity of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and your letter of solidarity to the Chinese people at such an important moment," Xi wrote in the letter, according to official news agency Xinhua. China is at a "critical moment" in the fight against the outbreak, he said. Millions remain under lockdown in central Hubei province, where the virus emerged in December, although new hotspots were found in several prisons and hospitals on Friday. Nearly 400 new cases were reported nationwide in China on Saturday -- less than half the number of new cases the previous day. "We have rallied the whole nation and adopted a string of unprecedented measures to contain and mitigate the epidemic and treat the sick," Xi wrote. "These extraordinary measures are delivering substantial results," he said. The Gates Foundation said the funding will be used to strengthen detection, isolation and treatment efforts, including protecting at-risk populations and developing vaccines and diagnostics. The foundation said it would direct $20 million to organizations like the World Health Organization, the US Centers for Disease Control and Protection, the National Health Commission of China and the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

China's Xi writes thank you note to Bill Gates for virus pledge

By Rowan Callick

Brand “People’s Republic of China” is wobbling, as if the massive picture of Mao Zedong in Tiananmen Square was swaying with an earthquake tremor. But it can only actually fall if pushed from inside.

The handling of the coronavirus epidemic is undoubtedly sapping confidence in the Communist party and its formerly all-conquering general secretary, Xi Jinping.

Any country or ruling party would struggle if faced with a similarly massive challenge – exacerbated by the great annual domestic migration for Lunar New Year.

But the party and its leader shoulder especially great ambitions of entering a “new era” created by Xi to “realise the Chinese Dream of national rejuvenation.”

National elders selected Xi as a leader in 2012 to purge corruption and purify the party. He has replaced most senior officials, including in the People’s Liberation Army, with those who supported his rise through the provincial ranks in Fujian and Zhejiang.

Xi has restructured the party, personalised and centralised power. Leveraging the anti-corruption campaign, he has also built the central party’s vast surveillance and control powers.

Losing the ‘mandate of heaven’

The big question now is how this renovated party structure is holding up against the appalling coronavirus epidemic. Particularly as it compounds an economic slowdown already exacerbated by the trade-and-tech war with the US and Beijing’s struggles to subdue its troubled borderlands in Xinjiang and Hong Kong.

It would seem logical that since Xi claims all the glory for China’s economic rise and global influence, he would bear the responsibility for disasters, as well.

This would fit with the old imperial danger of losing the “mandate of heaven” – the notion that only a righteous ruler would retain the approval of the Gods.

But there’s a long history in China of people blaming local officials for problems, while retaining a belief in the power of the emperor or general secretary to resolve them. Hundreds of thousands still annually petition the central party leadership about regional and personal wrongs.

Many are still assessing where to pin the blame for the current crisis and are reluctant to accept what they are told officially. People are adroitly downloading and re-posting censored messages on social media, causing the “net police” constant whack-a-mole grief.

This is why the initial failings of the Wuhan authorities, which likely enabled the virus to spread rapidly, have aroused widespread anger in China. And why many rightly dubbed the whistleblowing doctor Li Wenliang, who died from the disease after being hauled in by police, a martyr.

In recent days, the central government has also blamed local authorities, replacing the party secretary in Hubei province. However, public anger and distrust of the authorities still burns.

Crises like the melamine-laced milk powder scandal that sickened more than 300,000 babies in 2008 and now coronavirus underline a basic reality: for all the vast sums spent on security in China, it remains fundamentally elusive for most people.

Alistair Nicholas, a Sydney-based business consultant with extensive China experience, told me his contacts in China have said, "&nbsp;The poor initial handling of the crisis by the Chinese authorities has ‘left a bitter taste in the mouths of many Chinese.’ Trust with their own government has been broken and those who can leave."

With hundreds of millions still staying largely at home, staring at smartphones, such sentiments seep out everywhere. 
 
Reform remains unlikely 
 
Xi will, of course, be aware it was in Wuchang, a district of Wuhan, where a rebellion began in 1911 that triggered the downfall of the Qing Dynasty.

Today, however, the extent of China’s online and offline controls almost rule out change – or even threat – coming from the “masses”.

They are not trusted to participate in their own governance. They are given no scope to organise. Since seizing power in 1949, the party has drawn a line under further revolutions.

In the last few days, two figures named Xu have challenged Xi, and suffered the consequences.

Xu Zhiyong, a civil rights activist and academic who called on Xi to resign over the virus response, has been arrested by security officials in Guangzhou.

And Xu Zhangrun, a famous law professor at Tsinghua University, has been placed under effective house arrest after posting a lengthy critique that said China’s political system.

There has also been sharp criticism of China’s response to the crisis overseas, but this, too, carries limited weight in Beijing.

Instead, China highlights and relishes the applause its governance receives, especially from agencies like the World Health Organisation. WHO Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus recently thanked China for its “transparency” and heaped particular praise on Xi for his “detailed knowledge of the outbreak”.

There are, of course, questions about when Xi’s knowledge of the outbreak actually began.

But rather than claiming ignorance of the severity of the outbreak at the outset, Xi has decided to take a different course. He’s persisting with his customary claim of omniscience and blaming local officials, while insisting China’s “war” against the virus has been valiant, as attested by the WHO and other international voices.

Who is going to take credible issue with that?

In today’s China, it is not intellectuals or the general public, but the 90 million party members who will determine whether this epidemic demands substantial change.

And that will ultimately depend on the tiny circle of elite cadres surrounding Xi. Unless a convincing crack appears at the top, the crucial band of middle-ranking party managers will sit tight.

‘Not just a problem for China, but for the world’

The personalisation of the system, combined with Xi’s reluctance to groom a successor is, however, steadily raising party anxiety about the future.

Xi said recently, " The long-term sound fundamentals of our economy haven’t changed … The impact of the outbreak will only be short-term."

But the rippling effects of coronavirus threaten to derail Xi’s vision of “rejuvenation” - a Chinese century of power and affluence. Economists ponder whether China will now spring the “middle-income trap” that has restrained the prosperity of other nations, risking a failure to “get rich before it grows old.”

The almost certain postponement of next month’s National People’s Congress is a further mark of a government in crisis. Despite making good health sense, this move would create political risk by acknowledging that even pillar state events are now eluding Xi’s control.

Once eventually summoned, though, the NPC delegates will be expected to cheer to the red rafters Xi’s victory in the “People’s War” against coronavirus.

But what does it mean, asks Jude Blanchette, who holds the Freeman Chair in China Studies at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies, for Xi to dominate a party and government, "That appear unable to confront, diagnose, and effectively overcome complex domestic and international challenges? That’s not just a problem for China, but for the world."

Or as the stood-down law professor Xu Zhangrun asks, can a regime that cannot treat its own people well, treat the world well?

(Rowan Callick is Industry Fellow, Griffith University)

(This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/how-vulnerable-is-xi-jinping-over-coronavirus-in-todays-china-there-are-few-to-hold-him-to-account-131760">original article</a>)

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL) &nbsp;

By Rowan Callick Brand “People’s Republic of China” is wobbling, as if the massive picture of Mao Zedong in Tiananmen Square was swaying with an earthquake tremor.

By Rowan Callick Brand “People’s Republic of China” is wobbling, as if the massive picture of Mao Zedong in Tiananmen Square was swaying with an earthquake tremor. But it can only actually fall if pushed from inside. The handling of the coronavirus epidemic is undoubtedly sapping confidence in the Communist party and its formerly all-conquering general secretary, Xi Jinping. Any country or ruling party would struggle if faced with a similarly massive challenge – exacerbated by the great annual domestic migration for Lunar New Year. But the party and its leader shoulder especially great ambitions of entering a “new era” created by Xi to “realise the Chinese Dream of national rejuvenation.” National elders selected Xi as a leader in 2012 to purge corruption and purify the party. He has replaced most senior officials, including in the People’s Liberation Army, with those who supported his rise through the provincial ranks in Fujian and Zhejiang. Xi has restructured the party, personalised and centralised power. Leveraging the anti-corruption campaign, he has also built the central party’s vast surveillance and control powers. Losing the ‘mandate of heaven’ The big question now is how this renovated party structure is holding up against the appalling coronavirus epidemic. Particularly as it compounds an economic slowdown already exacerbated by the trade-and-tech war with the US and Beijing’s struggles to subdue its troubled borderlands in Xinjiang and Hong Kong. It would seem logical that since Xi claims all the glory for China’s economic rise and global influence, he would bear the responsibility for disasters, as well. This would fit with the old imperial danger of losing the “mandate of heaven” – the notion that only a righteous ruler would retain the approval of the Gods. But there’s a long history in China of people blaming local officials for problems, while retaining a belief in the power of the emperor or general secretary to resolve them. Hundreds of thousands still annually petition the central party leadership about regional and personal wrongs. Many are still assessing where to pin the blame for the current crisis and are reluctant to accept what they are told officially. People are adroitly downloading and re-posting censored messages on social media, causing the “net police” constant whack-a-mole grief. This is why the initial failings of the Wuhan authorities, which likely enabled the virus to spread rapidly, have aroused widespread anger in China. And why many rightly dubbed the whistleblowing doctor Li Wenliang, who died from the disease after being hauled in by police, a martyr. In recent days, the central government has also blamed local authorities, replacing the party secretary in Hubei province. However, public anger and distrust of the authorities still burns. Crises like the melamine-laced milk powder scandal that sickened more than 300,000 babies in 2008 and now coronavirus underline a basic reality: for all the vast sums spent on security in China, it remains fundamentally elusive for most people. Alistair Nicholas, a Sydney-based business consultant with extensive China experience, told me his contacts in China have said, " The poor initial handling of the crisis by the Chinese authorities has ‘left a bitter taste in the mouths of many Chinese.’ Trust with their own government has been broken and those who can leave." With hundreds of millions still staying largely at home, staring at smartphones, such sentiments seep out everywhere. Reform remains unlikely Xi will, of course, be aware it was in Wuchang, a district of Wuhan, where a rebellion began in 1911 that triggered the downfall of the Qing Dynasty. Today, however, the extent of China’s online and offline controls almost rule out change – or even threat – coming from the “masses”. They are not trusted to participate in their own governance. They are given no scope to organise. Since seizing power in 1949, the party has drawn a line under further revolutions. In the last few days, two figures named Xu have challenged Xi, and suffered the consequences. Xu Zhiyong, a civil rights activist and academic who called on Xi to resign over the virus response, has been arrested by security officials in Guangzhou. And Xu Zhangrun, a famous law professor at Tsinghua University, has been placed under effective house arrest after posting a lengthy critique that said China’s political system. There has also been sharp criticism of China’s response to the crisis overseas, but this, too, carries limited weight in Beijing. Instead, China highlights and relishes the applause its governance receives, especially from agencies like the World Health Organisation. WHO Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus recently thanked China for its “transparency” and heaped particular praise on Xi for his “detailed knowledge of the outbreak”. There are, of course, questions about when Xi’s knowledge of the outbreak actually began. But rather than claiming ignorance of the severity of the outbreak at the outset, Xi has decided to take a different course. He’s persisting with his customary claim of omniscience and blaming local officials, while insisting China’s “war” against the virus has been valiant, as attested by the WHO and other international voices. Who is going to take credible issue with that? In today’s China, it is not intellectuals or the general public, but the 90 million party members who will determine whether this epidemic demands substantial change. And that will ultimately depend on the tiny circle of elite cadres surrounding Xi. Unless a convincing crack appears at the top, the crucial band of middle-ranking party managers will sit tight. ‘Not just a problem for China, but for the world’ The personalisation of the system, combined with Xi’s reluctance to groom a successor is, however, steadily raising party anxiety about the future. Xi said recently, " The long-term sound fundamentals of our economy haven’t changed … The impact of the outbreak will only be short-term." But the rippling effects of coronavirus threaten to derail Xi’s vision of “rejuvenation” - a Chinese century of power and affluence. Economists ponder whether China will now spring the “middle-income trap” that has restrained the prosperity of other nations, risking a failure to “get rich before it grows old.” The almost certain postponement of next month’s National People’s Congress is a further mark of a government in crisis. Despite making good health sense, this move would create political risk by acknowledging that even pillar state events are now eluding Xi’s control. Once eventually summoned, though, the NPC delegates will be expected to cheer to the red rafters Xi’s victory in the “People’s War” against coronavirus. But what does it mean, asks Jude Blanchette, who holds the Freeman Chair in China Studies at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies, for Xi to dominate a party and government, "That appear unable to confront, diagnose, and effectively overcome complex domestic and international challenges? That’s not just a problem for China, but for the world." Or as the stood-down law professor Xu Zhangrun asks, can a regime that cannot treat its own people well, treat the world well? (Rowan Callick is Industry Fellow, Griffith University) (This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

How vulnerable is Xi Jinping over coronavirus?

China reported its fewest new coronavirus infections since January on Tuesday and its lowest daily death toll for a week, but the World Health Organization said data suggesting the epidemic had slowed should still be viewed with caution.

The head of a leading hospital in China's central city of Wuhan, epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak, died of the disease on Tuesday, becoming one of the most prominent victims since the disease first appeared at the end of last year.

Illustrating the economic impact of the outbreak, European shares dropped on Tuesday after Apple Inc issued a revenue warning due to the disruption the disease is causing to global supply chains.

Also read:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/coronavirus-outbreak-fresh-events-spark-a-fresh-round-of-bioweapon-theories-281412"> Coronavirus outbreak - Fresh events spark another round of bioweapon theory</a>

Chinese officials reported 1,886 new cases - the first time the daily figure has fallen below 2,000 since Jan. 30 - bringing the mainland China total to 72,436. A figure of 98 new deaths marked the first time the daily toll in China had fallen below 100 since Feb. 11, bringing the total to 1,868.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/coronavirus-toll-leaps-past-1868-with-93-new-deaths-in-chinas-hubei-province-281239">World Health Organization</a> Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said Chinese data "appears to show a decline in new cases" but any apparent trend "must be interpreted very cautiously".

Outside China, there have been 827 cases of the disease, known as COVID-19, and five deaths, according to a Reuters count based on official statements. More than half of those cases have been on a cruise ship quarantined off Japan.

Tedros said there had been 92 cases of human-to-human spread of the coronavirus in 12 countries outside China but the WHO did not have the data to make meaningful comparisons to what was going on in China.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/taiwans-confirms-first-coronavirus-death-on-island-cases-at-20-280968">Taiwan's confirms first coronavirus death on island, cases at 20</a>

"We have not seen sustained local transmission of coronavirus except in specific circumstances like the Diamond Princess cruise ship," he said.

China says figures indicating a slowdown in new cases in recent days show that aggressive steps it has taken to curb travel and commerce are slowing the spread of the disease beyond central Hubei province and its capital, Wuhan.

The WHO's Mike Ryan said China had had success with "putting out the fire" first in Hubei and ensuring that people returning to Beijing from the Lunar New Year holiday are monitored.

The numbers appear encouraging, said Mark Woolhouse, a professor of infectious disease epidemiology at Britain's University of Edinburgh, who described himself as cautious.

Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/latest-world-news-taiwan-selling-face-masks-to-fend-off-chinese-buyers-279227">Now, Taiwan sells face masks to fend off Chinese buyer</a>

"Though it is unrealistic to reduce the transmission rate to zero it may have been reduced to a level where the epidemic is brought under control," Woolhouse said.

"It may be that the epidemic is simply running its natural course, and is starting to run out of new people to infect. It could also be that the unprecedented public health measures introduced in China are having the desired effect."

Chinese state television said Liu Zhiming, the director of Wuhan Wuchang Hospital, died on Tuesday, the seventh health worker to fall victim. The hospital was designated solely for treating virus-infected patients.

Global repercussions

Despite global concerns about the economic impact of the disease, China's ambassador to the European Union said on Tuesday this would be "limited, short-term and manageable" and that Beijing had enough resources to step in if needed.

Chinese state television quoted President Xi Jinping as saying China could still meet its economic growth target for 2020 despite the epidemic.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/latest-world-news-taiwan-selling-face-masks-to-fend-off-chinese-buyers-279227">Now, Taiwan sells face masks to fend off Chinese buyers</a>

Economists are warning of potential mass layoffs in China later this year if the virus is not contained soon.

"The employment situation is OK in the first quarter, but if the virus is not contained by end-March, then from the second quarter, we'll see a big round of layoffs," said Dan Wang, an analyst with the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU). Job losses could run as high as 4.5 million, he forecast.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in said the economy there was in an emergency situation and required stimulus as the epidemic had disrupted demand for South Korean goods.

Singapore announced a $4.5 billion financial package to help contain the outbreak in the city-state and weather its economic impact.

Singapore Airlines Ltd said it would temporarily cut flights in the three months to May, as the epidemic hits demand for services touching and transiting the key travel hub.

Japan, where the economy was already shrinking and the epidemic has created fears of recession, the spread of the virus has prompted Tokyo to put limits on public crowds while some companies are telling employees to work from home.

China reported its fewest new coronavirus infections since January on Tuesday and its lowest daily death toll for a week, but the World Health Organization said data suggesting the epidemic had slowed should still be viewed with caution.

China reported its fewest new coronavirus infections since January on Tuesday and its lowest daily death toll for a week, but the World Health Organization said data suggesting the epidemic had slowed should still be viewed with caution. The head of a leading hospital in China's central city of Wuhan, epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak, died of the disease on Tuesday, becoming one of the most prominent victims since the disease first appeared at the end of last year. Illustrating the economic impact of the outbreak, European shares dropped on Tuesday after Apple Inc issued a revenue warning due to the disruption the disease is causing to global supply chains. Also read: Coronavirus outbreak - Fresh events spark another round of bioweapon theory Chinese officials reported 1,886 new cases - the first time the daily figure has fallen below 2,000 since Jan. 30 - bringing the mainland China total to 72,436. A figure of 98 new deaths marked the first time the daily toll in China had fallen below 100 since Feb. 11, bringing the total to 1,868. World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said Chinese data "appears to show a decline in new cases" but any apparent trend "must be interpreted very cautiously". Outside China, there have been 827 cases of the disease, known as COVID-19, and five deaths, according to a Reuters count based on official statements. More than half of those cases have been on a cruise ship quarantined off Japan. Tedros said there had been 92 cases of human-to-human spread of the coronavirus in 12 countries outside China but the WHO did not have the data to make meaningful comparisons to what was going on in China. Also read: Taiwan's confirms first coronavirus death on island, cases at 20 "We have not seen sustained local transmission of coronavirus except in specific circumstances like the Diamond Princess cruise ship," he said. China says figures indicating a slowdown in new cases in recent days show that aggressive steps it has taken to curb travel and commerce are slowing the spread of the disease beyond central Hubei province and its capital, Wuhan. The WHO's Mike Ryan said China had had success with "putting out the fire" first in Hubei and ensuring that people returning to Beijing from the Lunar New Year holiday are monitored. The numbers appear encouraging, said Mark Woolhouse, a professor of infectious disease epidemiology at Britain's University of Edinburgh, who described himself as cautious. Also read: Now, Taiwan sells face masks to fend off Chinese buyer "Though it is unrealistic to reduce the transmission rate to zero it may have been reduced to a level where the epidemic is brought under control," Woolhouse said. "It may be that the epidemic is simply running its natural course, and is starting to run out of new people to infect. It could also be that the unprecedented public health measures introduced in China are having the desired effect." Chinese state television said Liu Zhiming, the director of Wuhan Wuchang Hospital, died on Tuesday, the seventh health worker to fall victim. The hospital was designated solely for treating virus-infected patients. Global repercussions Despite global concerns about the economic impact of the disease, China's ambassador to the European Union said on Tuesday this would be "limited, short-term and manageable" and that Beijing had enough resources to step in if needed. Chinese state television quoted President Xi Jinping as saying China could still meet its economic growth target for 2020 despite the epidemic. Also read: Now, Taiwan sells face masks to fend off Chinese buyers Economists are warning of potential mass layoffs in China later this year if the virus is not contained soon. "The employment situation is OK in the first quarter, but if the virus is not contained by end-March, then from the second quarter, we'll see a big round of layoffs," said Dan Wang, an analyst with the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU). Job losses could run as high as 4.5 million, he forecast. South Korean President Moon Jae-in said the economy there was in an emergency situation and required stimulus as the epidemic had disrupted demand for South Korean goods. Singapore announced a $4.5 billion financial package to help contain the outbreak in the city-state and weather its economic impact. Singapore Airlines Ltd said it would temporarily cut flights in the three months to May, as the epidemic hits demand for services touching and transiting the key travel hub. Japan, where the economy was already shrinking and the epidemic has created fears of recession, the spread of the virus has prompted Tokyo to put limits on public crowds while some companies are telling employees to work from home.

China sees fall in coronavirus deaths, WHO urges caution, Apple takes hit

China will grant exemptions on retaliatory duties imposed against 696 US goods, the most substantial tariff relief to be offered so far, as Beijing seeks to fulfil commitments made in its interim trade deal with the United States.

Tuesday's announcement comes after the Phase 1 trade deal between the two countries took effect on February 14 and is the third round of tariff exemptions China has offered on US goods.

China has committed to boosting its purchases of goods and services from the United States by $200 billion over two years as part of the agreement and has already rolled back some additional tariffs on US imports after the deal was signed.

US goods eligible for tariff exemptions include key agricultural and energy products such as pork, beef, soybeans, liquefied natural gas and crude oil, which were subject to extra tariffs imposed during the escalation of the bilateral trade dispute.

The coronavirus epidemic that emerged late last year in China has raised concerns about its ability to meet the purchasing targets, however. Authorities throughout the country imposed major restriction on travel and transportation to curb the spread of the virus, which has killed nearly 1,900 and infected more than 70,000 in the country.

The containment efforts have kept factories shut or operating with drastically reduced staff, hitting production. The public has also been discouraged from leaving their homes or going to public places, also stunting consumption.

White House adviser Larry Kudlow said earlier this month that Chinese President Xi Jinping told US President Donald Trump during a recent call that China will still meet its Phase 1 trade deal purchasing targets.

Beijing's announcement on Tuesday emphasised that Chinese firms will submit applications for tariff exemptions based on market conditions and commercial considerations.

"Unless the state forcefully asks firms to apply for tariff exemption and buy US soybeans, crushers would still go for Brazilian beans, based on market free will," said a trader, adding that Brazilian beans are of good quality and price this year.

Other products subject to exemption on additional tariffs imposed include denatured ethanol and wheat, corn and sorghum. Some medical devices and metals including copper ore and concentrates, copper scrap and aluminium scrap are also subject to exemption.

Pharmaceutical products such as recombinant human insulin and some antibiotics are also among US products eligible for tariff exemptions.

Firms can start submitting their applications on March 2, and any exemptions granted will be valid for one year.

China will grant exemptions on retaliatory duties imposed against 696 US goods, the most substantial tariff relief to be offered so far, as Beijing seeks to fulfil commitments made in its interim trade deal with the United States.

China will grant exemptions on retaliatory duties imposed against 696 US goods, the most substantial tariff relief to be offered so far, as Beijing seeks to fulfil commitments made in its interim trade deal with the United States. Tuesday's announcement comes after the Phase 1 trade deal between the two countries took effect on February 14 and is the third round of tariff exemptions China has offered on US goods. China has committed to boosting its purchases of goods and services from the United States by $200 billion over two years as part of the agreement and has already rolled back some additional tariffs on US imports after the deal was signed. US goods eligible for tariff exemptions include key agricultural and energy products such as pork, beef, soybeans, liquefied natural gas and crude oil, which were subject to extra tariffs imposed during the escalation of the bilateral trade dispute. The coronavirus epidemic that emerged late last year in China has raised concerns about its ability to meet the purchasing targets, however. Authorities throughout the country imposed major restriction on travel and transportation to curb the spread of the virus, which has killed nearly 1,900 and infected more than 70,000 in the country. The containment efforts have kept factories shut or operating with drastically reduced staff, hitting production. The public has also been discouraged from leaving their homes or going to public places, also stunting consumption. White House adviser Larry Kudlow said earlier this month that Chinese President Xi Jinping told US President Donald Trump during a recent call that China will still meet its Phase 1 trade deal purchasing targets. Beijing's announcement on Tuesday emphasised that Chinese firms will submit applications for tariff exemptions based on market conditions and commercial considerations. "Unless the state forcefully asks firms to apply for tariff exemption and buy US soybeans, crushers would still go for Brazilian beans, based on market free will," said a trader, adding that Brazilian beans are of good quality and price this year. Other products subject to exemption on additional tariffs imposed include denatured ethanol and wheat, corn and sorghum. Some medical devices and metals including copper ore and concentrates, copper scrap and aluminium scrap are also subject to exemption. Pharmaceutical products such as recombinant human insulin and some antibiotics are also among US products eligible for tariff exemptions. Firms can start submitting their applications on March 2, and any exemptions granted will be valid for one year.

China to grant tariff exemptions on 696 US goods to support purchases

China will help companies resume production as soon as possible, the vice governor of the central bank said on Saturday.

The world's second-biggest economy has been hit by a fast-spreading <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/covid-19-143-new-deaths-reported-in-china-as-toll-rises-to-1523-280766">coronavirus </a>epidemic that has killed more than 1,500 people.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/covid-19-143-new-deaths-reported-in-china-as-toll-rises-to-1523-280766">COVID-19: 143 new deaths reported in China as toll rises to 1,523</a>

Liang Tao, vice chairman of the China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission, told a news conference <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/covid-19-143-new-deaths-reported-in-china-as-toll-rises-to-1523-280766">China </a>would accelerate lending and credit support for key investment projects, while supporting small and private firms hit by the virus outbreak.

Separately, Xuan Changneng, vice head of the country's foreign exchange regulator, told the briefing <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/covid-19-143-new-deaths-reported-in-china-as-toll-rises-to-1523-280766">China </a>was expected to maintain a small current account surplus and keep a basic balance in international payments.

China will help companies resume production as soon as possible, the vice governor of the central bank said on Saturday. The world's second-biggest economy has been hit by a fast-spreading coronavirus epidemic that has killed more than 1,500 people.

China will help companies resume production as soon as possible, the vice governor of the central bank said on Saturday. The world's second-biggest economy has been hit by a fast-spreading coronavirus epidemic that has killed more than 1,500 people. COVID-19: 143 new deaths reported in China as toll rises to 1,523 Liang Tao, vice chairman of the China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission, told a news conference China would accelerate lending and credit support for key investment projects, while supporting small and private firms hit by the virus outbreak. Separately, Xuan Changneng, vice head of the country's foreign exchange regulator, told the briefing China was expected to maintain a small current account surplus and keep a basic balance in international payments.

China says to support firms to resume production as soon as possible

France reported the first fatality from the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/france-confirms-first-coronavirus-death-outside-asia-280816">new coronavirus outside Asia </a>on Saturday fuelling global concerns about the epidemic, as the death toll from the outbreak jumped past 1,500 in China.

More than 66,000 people have now been infected in China from a virus that emerged in central Hubei province in December before spreading across the country and some two dozen countries.

Amid criticism over the handling of the crisis, Chinese President Xi Jinping called for tighter policing to protect social stability, while Beijing ordered people returning to the capital to self-quarantine for 14 days in the latest drastic measure aimed at containing the virus.

In France, an 80-year-old Chinese tourist died from the new coronavirus, French Health Minister Agnes Buzyn said.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/united-qantas-virgin-atlantic-among-many-who-banned-flights-to-china-among-coronavirus-outbreak-280547">Also Read:&nbsp;United, Qantas, Virgin Atlantic extend flight ban to China</a>

Only three other deaths have been recorded outside mainland China -- in the Philippines, Hong Kong, and Japan.

The death toll in China, meanwhile, rose to 1,523 after 143 more people died in the country, most in Hubei.

Several countries have banned arrivals from China and major airlines have cut services with the country.

The biggest cluster outside China is on a quarantined cruise ship off Japan, with 285 infections now as dozens of more cases were confirmed.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/thousands-of-couples-are-married-in-mass-wedding-ceremony-braving-the-fears-of-ncov-279212">In Pics: Couples get married in South Korea braving coronavirus fears</a>

A US State Department spokesperson said Americans stranded on the vessel would be evacuated and would face a further quarantine of two weeks in the United States.

More police

The virus spread last month as <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/covid-19-143-new-deaths-reported-in-china-as-toll-rises-to-1523-280766">millions travelled across the country for the Lunar New Year</a>, which was extended by three days -- more than a week in some cities -- in an effort to prevent further contagion.

People have slowly started to return to work in the past two weeks, though many are doing their jobs from home and schools remain closed.

Beijing's municipal government enacted a rule on Friday requiring all people coming to the capital to quarantine themselves for 14 days, warning that violators would be punished, according to official media. It was unclear how authorities would enforce the measure.

Chinese authorities have placed some 56 million people in Hubei and its capital Wuhan under quarantine, virtually sealing off the province from the rest of the country in an unprecedented effort to contain the virus.

A number of cities far from the epicentre have also imposed tough measures limiting the number of people who can leave their homes.

The government must "increase use of police force and strengthen the visible use of police," to ensure stability during the crisis, Xi said in a February 3 speech published by state media on Saturday.

In another drastic preventive measure, China's central bank said Saturday that used banknotes were being disinfected with an ultraviolet light or high temperatures, and stored for up to 14 days before they are put back into circulation.

The scale of the epidemic ballooned this week after authorities in Hubei changed their criteria for counting cases, retroactively adding thousands of new patients to their tally.

New cases fall

Hubei added more than 14,000 cases in a single day this week after officials there started counting people clinically diagnosed through lung imaging, in addition to those with a positive lab test result.

On Saturday, the National Health Commission reported 2,641 new cases of the COVID-19 strain, with the vast majority in Hubei.

The number, however, was almost half those reported the previous day.

"We're seeking further clarity on how clinical diagnosis is being made to ensure other respiratory illnesses including influenza are not getting mixed into the COVID-19 data," said WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

The number of new confirmed cases has been steadily falling outside Hubei, with 221 infections reported on Saturday.

A top Chinese scientist had predicted that the epidemic could peak by the end of this month after the number of new cases had fallen earlier in the week.

The WHO has cautioned that it was "way too early" to make any predictions about the disease's trajectory.

An international team of WHO experts will arrive in Beijing this weekend for a joint mission with Chinese counterparts.

The joint team will inspect three provinces and cities to review the prevention and control measures, visit research centres, and make recommendations for containing the epidemic, according to National Health Commission spokesman Mi Feng.

France reported the first fatality from the new coronavirus outside Asia on Saturday fuelling global concerns about the epidemic, as the death toll from the outbreak jumped past 1,500 in China.

France reported the first fatality from the new coronavirus outside Asia on Saturday fuelling global concerns about the epidemic, as the death toll from the outbreak jumped past 1,500 in China. More than 66,000 people have now been infected in China from a virus that emerged in central Hubei province in December before spreading across the country and some two dozen countries. Amid criticism over the handling of the crisis, Chinese President Xi Jinping called for tighter policing to protect social stability, while Beijing ordered people returning to the capital to self-quarantine for 14 days in the latest drastic measure aimed at containing the virus. In France, an 80-year-old Chinese tourist died from the new coronavirus, French Health Minister Agnes Buzyn said. Also Read: United, Qantas, Virgin Atlantic extend flight ban to China Only three other deaths have been recorded outside mainland China -- in the Philippines, Hong Kong, and Japan. The death toll in China, meanwhile, rose to 1,523 after 143 more people died in the country, most in Hubei. Several countries have banned arrivals from China and major airlines have cut services with the country. The biggest cluster outside China is on a quarantined cruise ship off Japan, with 285 infections now as dozens of more cases were confirmed. In Pics: Couples get married in South Korea braving coronavirus fears A US State Department spokesperson said Americans stranded on the vessel would be evacuated and would face a further quarantine of two weeks in the United States. More police The virus spread last month as millions travelled across the country for the Lunar New Year, which was extended by three days -- more than a week in some cities -- in an effort to prevent further contagion. People have slowly started to return to work in the past two weeks, though many are doing their jobs from home and schools remain closed. Beijing's municipal government enacted a rule on Friday requiring all people coming to the capital to quarantine themselves for 14 days, warning that violators would be punished, according to official media. It was unclear how authorities would enforce the measure. Chinese authorities have placed some 56 million people in Hubei and its capital Wuhan under quarantine, virtually sealing off the province from the rest of the country in an unprecedented effort to contain the virus. A number of cities far from the epicentre have also imposed tough measures limiting the number of people who can leave their homes. The government must "increase use of police force and strengthen the visible use of police," to ensure stability during the crisis, Xi said in a February 3 speech published by state media on Saturday. In another drastic preventive measure, China's central bank said Saturday that used banknotes were being disinfected with an ultraviolet light or high temperatures, and stored for up to 14 days before they are put back into circulation. The scale of the epidemic ballooned this week after authorities in Hubei changed their criteria for counting cases, retroactively adding thousands of new patients to their tally. New cases fall Hubei added more than 14,000 cases in a single day this week after officials there started counting people clinically diagnosed through lung imaging, in addition to those with a positive lab test result. On Saturday, the National Health Commission reported 2,641 new cases of the COVID-19 strain, with the vast majority in Hubei. The number, however, was almost half those reported the previous day. "We're seeking further clarity on how clinical diagnosis is being made to ensure other respiratory illnesses including influenza are not getting mixed into the COVID-19 data," said WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. The number of new confirmed cases has been steadily falling outside Hubei, with 221 infections reported on Saturday. A top Chinese scientist had predicted that the epidemic could peak by the end of this month after the number of new cases had fallen earlier in the week. The WHO has cautioned that it was "way too early" to make any predictions about the disease's trajectory. An international team of WHO experts will arrive in Beijing this weekend for a joint mission with Chinese counterparts. The joint team will inspect three provinces and cities to review the prevention and control measures, visit research centres, and make recommendations for containing the epidemic, according to National Health Commission spokesman Mi Feng.

First coronavirus death confirmed in Europe; over 1,500 die in China

China on Tuesday "commended" Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa's remarks that the island nation has received "lot of benefits" from Beijing's ambitious multi-billion-dollar Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

The BRI is an initiative launched by Chinese President Xi Jinping when he came to power in 2013. It aims to link Southeast Asia, Central Asia, the Gulf region, Africa and Europe with a network of land and sea route.

During his recent visit to India, Rajapaksa said his country has received a lot of benefits from the BRI.

China, in the last few years, received over eight billion US dollars funding for its infrastructure projects. Sri Lanka handed over its Hambantota port to China in 2017 as a debt swap.

When asked for reaction to Rajapaksa's remarks, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said, "China commends the comments made by Prime Minister Rajapaksa".

"China and Sri Lanka share a strategic cooperative partnership based on sincere mutual assistance and ever-lasting friendship," he said.

"Based on Sri Lanka's development needs, China offered loans to support its infrastructure building and other major domestic projects concerning people's livelihood. These projects and loans have boosted Sri Lanka's economic growth, created a large amount of local jobs and contributed to the country's sustainable development," Geng said.

"Those outcomes have been commended by the government and people of Sri Lanka. China stands ready to strengthen BRI cooperation with Sri Lanka to deliver more benefits to the two people," he said.

China on Tuesday "commended" Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa's remarks that the island nation has received "lot of benefits" from Beijing's ambitious multi-billion-dollar Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

China on Tuesday "commended" Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa's remarks that the island nation has received "lot of benefits" from Beijing's ambitious multi-billion-dollar Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). The BRI is an initiative launched by Chinese President Xi Jinping when he came to power in 2013. It aims to link Southeast Asia, Central Asia, the Gulf region, Africa and Europe with a network of land and sea route. During his recent visit to India, Rajapaksa said his country has received a lot of benefits from the BRI. China, in the last few years, received over eight billion US dollars funding for its infrastructure projects. Sri Lanka handed over its Hambantota port to China in 2017 as a debt swap. When asked for reaction to Rajapaksa's remarks, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said, "China commends the comments made by Prime Minister Rajapaksa". "China and Sri Lanka share a strategic cooperative partnership based on sincere mutual assistance and ever-lasting friendship," he said. "Based on Sri Lanka's development needs, China offered loans to support its infrastructure building and other major domestic projects concerning people's livelihood. These projects and loans have boosted Sri Lanka's economic growth, created a large amount of local jobs and contributed to the country's sustainable development," Geng said. "Those outcomes have been commended by the government and people of Sri Lanka. China stands ready to strengthen BRI cooperation with Sri Lanka to deliver more benefits to the two people," he said.

China 'commends' Rajapaksa's defence of BRI during his India visit

For eight days and the AFP team lived and worked at the centre of the global health emergency, witnessing how life in the Chinese city of Wuhan was turned upside down as it was cut off from the rest of the world. Watch report:

Fineprint: Ground report from inside of Coronavirus epicentre Wuhan

Pakistan has moved a resolution in its Parliament supporting China in its fight against the deadly coronavirus outbreak. Doing so Pakistan has become the first nation in the world to move such a resolution. China is witnessing an unprecedented coroutine following the coronavirus outbreak. The whole world is concerned about it. The upper house called the Senate of Pakistan parliament has unanimously adopted a resolution to stand with China in its hour of need.

Pak Senate steps in support of China, Passes resolution praising China's fight against Coronavirus

The number of coronavirus cases is continuing to rise. The death toll has now crossed the 1000 mark after China recorded 108 new deaths and bringing the death toll to 1016 across mainland China. The confirmed cases are now standing at more than 42,600. Wuhan which remains the worst hit has started at full front disinfection drive on the streets to control the spread. Watch report:

Wion Dispatch: 108 new coronavirus deaths recorded in a day in China, Death toll rises to 1016

Xi Jinping finally resurfaces after conjecture amid coronavirus outbreak

The United States on Friday (February 7) offered $100m aid to China and other countries who are fighting coronavirus. The number of deaths due to China's coronavirus epidemic jumped to 722, surpassing the toll from the SARS outbreak on the mainland and Hong Kong almost two decades ago.

Coronavirus Outbreak: US offers $100m aid to China

Xi Jinping is often called the most powerful leader since Mao. But now, that description is being contested. On WION Edit: Palki Sharma tells you how the coronavirus outbreak could threaten the Chinese President's grip on power.

WION Edit: Is Xi Jinping's grip on power under threat?

Its been more than a month since the first reports of the coronavirus trickled in. Where is Xi Jinping? The Chinese President is not the face of the Beijing's response to the outbreak. WION's Palki Sharma tells you why.

Gravitas: Wuhan virus outbreak, where is Xi Jinping?

The health officials&nbsp;on Thursday confirmed that a patient in Kerala had tested positive for novel coronavirus, the first case in the country of the virus which originated in China and has so far killed 170.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/coronavirus-more-japanese-evacuated-from-china-virus-epicentre-death-toll-climbs-to-170-277434">Also read: Death toll climbs to 170, the infection spreads to every Chinese region</a>

The patient was a student of Wuhan University in China, India's government said in a statement. The patient is stable and in isolation at a hospital, the statement added.

"The patient has tested positive for Novel Coronavirus and is in isolation in the hospital. The patient is stable and is being closely monitored," a PIB statement said.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/coronavirus-outbreak-indigo-air-india-suspend-most-china-bound-flights-no-case-in-india-yet-277405">Coronavirus outbreak: IndiGo, Air India suspend most China-bound flights; no case in India yet</a>

Meanwhile, All three patients of suspected coronavirus cases reported at Delhi-based RML hospital have been discharged on Thursday after being tested negative, Smriti Tiwari, spokesperson of the RML Hospital informed.&nbsp;

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Since Monday, these three men were kept under tight health monitoring and isolation for the medical treatment after they complained of respiratory illnesses.

This week, India readied a state-carrier aeroplane to travel to Wuhan but was waiting for a nod from Chinese authorities who were trying to sequence the whole evacuation process.

"Only those nationals who don't have the virus will be airlifted, they will be brought into a quarantine facility outside Delhi," the official said, requesting anonymity.

Demands from South Asian nationals intensified after countries such as the United States and Japan began pulling out their nationals.

(With inputs from agencies)

The health officials on Thursday confirmed that a patient in Kerala had tested positive for novel coronavirus, the first case in the country of the virus which originated in China and has so far killed 170.

The health officials on Thursday confirmed that a patient in Kerala had tested positive for novel coronavirus, the first case in the country of the virus which originated in China and has so far killed 170. Also read: Death toll climbs to 170, the infection spreads to every Chinese region The patient was a student of Wuhan University in China, India's government said in a statement. The patient is stable and in isolation at a hospital, the statement added. "The patient has tested positive for Novel Coronavirus and is in isolation in the hospital. The patient is stable and is being closely monitored," a PIB statement said. Also read: Coronavirus outbreak: IndiGo, Air India suspend most China-bound flights; no case in India yet Meanwhile, All three patients of suspected coronavirus cases reported at Delhi-based RML hospital have been discharged on Thursday after being tested negative, Smriti Tiwari, spokesperson of the RML Hospital informed. Since Monday, these three men were kept under tight health monitoring and isolation for the medical treatment after they complained of respiratory illnesses. This week, India readied a state-carrier aeroplane to travel to Wuhan but was waiting for a nod from Chinese authorities who were trying to sequence the whole evacuation process. "Only those nationals who don't have the virus will be airlifted, they will be brought into a quarantine facility outside Delhi," the official said, requesting anonymity. Demands from South Asian nationals intensified after countries such as the United States and Japan began pulling out their nationals. (With inputs from agencies)

Coronavirus: First confirmed case in India, Kerala student tests positive

The <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-says-world-health-organization-chief-against-virus-related-evacuations-as-countries-plan-pull-outs-277084">World Health Organization</a> on Wednesday warned all countries across the globe&nbsp;to "take action" against&nbsp;the deadly coronavirus from <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/coronavirus-news-wuhan-coronavirus-who-yet-to-decide-if-china-virus-is-a-global-health-emergency-276018">China</a>.

It called an urgent meeting for Thursday over whether the viral epidemic should be declared a global health emergency.

This can facilitate increased international coordination.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/coronavirus-news-wuhan-coronavirus-who-yet-to-decide-if-china-virus-is-a-global-health-emergency-276018">WHO yet to decide if Wuhan virus is a global health emergency</a>

"In the last few days the progress of the virus especially in some countries, especially human-to-human transmission, worries us," said WHO chief <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/air-pollution-is-the-new-tobacco-who-director-general-tedros-173879">Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.</a>

The WHO's Emergency Committee panel of 16 independent experts twice last week declined to declare an international emergency but will re-evaluate the situation on Thursday.

"We are at an important juncture in this event. We believe these chains of transmission can still be interrupted," said Mike Ryan, Executive Director of the WHO's&nbsp;Health&nbsp;Emergencies Programme.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/coronavirus-more-japanese-evacuated-from-china-virus-epicentre-death-toll-climbs-to-170-277434">Death toll climbs to 170, the infection spreads to every Chinese region</a>

Hundreds of foreigners are being&nbsp;evacuated from <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/uae-confirms-first-case-of-coronavirus-277351">Wuhan</a>, the epicentre of the outbreak.

The deadly SARS-like virus&nbsp;has claimed 170 lives in total&nbsp;and has infected more than 6,000 people in the world.&nbsp;

New cases were reported in Finland and the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/uae-confirms-first-case-of-coronavirus-277351">United Arab Emirates</a>.

Airlines around the world are either suspending or paring back services in and out of China, following cases of human-to-human transmission outside the country.

Chinese President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/chinese-president-xi-jinping-meets-who-director-general-to-discuss-deadly-coronavirus-277261">Xi Jinping</a> called the situation&nbsp;"grim and complex" and vowed to defeat the "devil" virus&nbsp;on Tuesday.

The World Health Organization on Wednesday warned all countries across the globe to "take action" against the deadly coronavirus from China. It called an urgent meeting for Thursday over whether the viral epidemic should be declared a global health emergency.

The World Health Organization on Wednesday warned all countries across the globe to "take action" against the deadly coronavirus from China. It called an urgent meeting for Thursday over whether the viral epidemic should be declared a global health emergency. This can facilitate increased international coordination. Also read: WHO yet to decide if Wuhan virus is a global health emergency "In the last few days the progress of the virus especially in some countries, especially human-to-human transmission, worries us," said WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. The WHO's Emergency Committee panel of 16 independent experts twice last week declined to declare an international emergency but will re-evaluate the situation on Thursday. "We are at an important juncture in this event. We believe these chains of transmission can still be interrupted," said Mike Ryan, Executive Director of the WHO's Health Emergencies Programme. Also read: Death toll climbs to 170, the infection spreads to every Chinese region Hundreds of foreigners are being evacuated from Wuhan, the epicentre of the outbreak. The deadly SARS-like virus has claimed 170 lives in total and has infected more than 6,000 people in the world. New cases were reported in Finland and the United Arab Emirates. Airlines around the world are either suspending or paring back services in and out of China, following cases of human-to-human transmission outside the country. Chinese President Xi Jinping called the situation "grim and complex" and vowed to defeat the "devil" virus on Tuesday.

World Health Organisation warns countries to 'take action' against coronavirus

A drug store in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/.../coronavirus-outbreak-global-health-scares-and- its-impact-on-world-economy-277136">Beijing</a> will be fined 3 million yuan ($434,530) for hiking the price of face masks by almost six times the online price amid the coronavirus outbreak, the Beijing municipal market regulator said on Wednesday.

Also read-&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/coronavirus-outbreak-chinese-media-official-post-fake-image-of-newly-constructed-hospital-277077">Coronavirus outbreak: Chinese media, official post fake image of newly constructed hospital</a>

The regulator has issued a notice of administrative penalty to Beijing Jimin Kangtai Pharmacy for sharply raising the price of N95 masks, it said in a statement on its website.

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Jimin Kangtai raised the price of 3M brand masks to 850 yuan per box, while the price of the same type of masks sold online was 143 yuan per box, state television said.

The Beijing municipal regulator has stepped up supervision on prices of epidemic protective equipment and punished illegal activities such as hoarding or fabricating information about price hikes. It has investigated 31 cases of price violation since January&nbsp;23, it said.

A drug store in Beijing will be fined 3 million yuan ($434,530) for hiking the price of face masks by almost six times the online price amid the coronavirus outbreak, the Beijing municipal market regulator said on Wednesday.

A drug store in Beijing will be fined 3 million yuan ($434,530) for hiking the price of face masks by almost six times the online price amid the coronavirus outbreak, the Beijing municipal market regulator said on Wednesday. Also read- Coronavirus outbreak: Chinese media, official post fake image of newly constructed hospital The regulator has issued a notice of administrative penalty to Beijing Jimin Kangtai Pharmacy for sharply raising the price of N95 masks, it said in a statement on its website. × Jimin Kangtai raised the price of 3M brand masks to 850 yuan per box, while the price of the same type of masks sold online was 143 yuan per box, state television said. The Beijing municipal regulator has stepped up supervision on prices of epidemic protective equipment and punished illegal activities such as hoarding or fabricating information about price hikes. It has investigated 31 cases of price violation since January 23, it said.

Coronavirus outbreak: Beijing drug store fined $434,530 for hiking price of masks

Xi made the remarks when meeting with visiting World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

WION Dispatch: Xi Meets WHO Chief To Contain Coronavirus

China is confident of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/france-japan-vow-to-fly-out-citizens-from-chinas-wuhan-as-coronavirus-spreads-276874">winning the battle against "demon" coronavirus</a>, country's President Xi Jinping said during a meet with the head of the World Health Organisation.

"The epidemic is a demon, and we cannot let this demon hide," Xi said adding that China is waging a battle against the "demon".

Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/coronavirus-outbreak-chinese-media-official-post-fake-image-of-newly-constructed-hospital-277077">Chinese media, official post fake image of newly constructed hospital</a>

Xi also pledged transparency in the government's effort to contain the deadly virus.

"The Chinese government has always adopted an open, transparent and responsible attitude to the timely release of information on the epidemic to domestic and foreign countries."

Xi also said that he believes the WHO and the international community will give a "calm, objective and rational" assessment of the virus.

During the meet, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and Xi discussed ways to protect Chinese and foreigners in areas affected by the coronavirus and "possible alternatives" to evacuations.

Watch: Coronavirus cases confirmed in 4 continents

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Concerns continue to mount in China as the death toll due to the coronavirus crossed 100 after China's National Health Commission reported more deaths due to the disease.

Tuesday's toll of 106 dead was up from 81 the day before. The number of total confirmed cases in China surged to 4,515 as of Monday from 2,835 the previous day, the National Health Commission said.

Though cases of the virus have been confirmed in other countries, with Germany and Sri Lanka are the latest.

However, no fatalities have been reported outside China.

Wuhan, a city of 11 million, where the virus emerged late last year, is now under effective lockdown.

Tens of millions of others in Hubei live under some form of travel curbs set up to try to stifle the virus.

(With inputs from agencies)

&nbsp;

China is confident of winning the battle against "demon" coronavirus, country's President Xi Jinping said during a meet with the head of the World Health Organisation.

China is confident of winning the battle against "demon" coronavirus, country's President Xi Jinping said during a meet with the head of the World Health Organisation. "The epidemic is a demon, and we cannot let this demon hide," Xi said adding that China is waging a battle against the "demon". Also read: Chinese media, official post fake image of newly constructed hospital Xi also pledged transparency in the government's effort to contain the deadly virus. "The Chinese government has always adopted an open, transparent and responsible attitude to the timely release of information on the epidemic to domestic and foreign countries." Xi also said that he believes the WHO and the international community will give a "calm, objective and rational" assessment of the virus. During the meet, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and Xi discussed ways to protect Chinese and foreigners in areas affected by the coronavirus and "possible alternatives" to evacuations. Watch: Coronavirus cases confirmed in 4 continents Video Embed Code: × Concerns continue to mount in China as the death toll due to the coronavirus crossed 100 after China's National Health Commission reported more deaths due to the disease. Tuesday's toll of 106 dead was up from 81 the day before. The number of total confirmed cases in China surged to 4,515 as of Monday from 2,835 the previous day, the National Health Commission said. Though cases of the virus have been confirmed in other countries, with Germany and Sri Lanka are the latest. However, no fatalities have been reported outside China. Wuhan, a city of 11 million, where the virus emerged late last year, is now under effective lockdown. Tens of millions of others in Hubei live under some form of travel curbs set up to try to stifle the virus. (With inputs from agencies)

China confident of winning battle against 'demon' coronavirus: Xi Jinping tells WHO

China can "win the battle" against the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hong-kong-declares-coronavirus-emergency-halts-official-visits-to-mainland-china-276488">coronavirus that has&nbsp;killed 41 people</a> and has&nbsp;infected over 1,200 across the country, President Xi Jinping said on Saturday.

"As long as we have steadfast confidence, work together, scientific prevention and cures, and precise policies, we will definitely be able to win the battle," President Xi told a meeting of the elite Politburo Standing Committee, according to local media reports.

The country is facing a "grave situation" where the coronavirus is "accelerating its spread," Xi also said during the meeting on measures to fight the outbreak.

The number of confirmed cases in China stands at 1,287. The virus has also been detected in Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Nepal, and the United States.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/wuhan-coronavirus-dos-and-donts-symptoms-276479">Also read | Wuhan coronavirus: Dos and don'ts, symptoms&nbsp;</a>

There are fears the transmission could accelerate as hundreds of millions of Chinese travel during the Lunar New Year holiday, although many have cancelled their plans.

Airports around the world have stepped up screening of passengers from China, though some health officials and experts have questioned the effectiveness of such screenings.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-confirms-second-case-of-coronavirus-at-least-50-under-investigation-276437">Also read |&nbsp;US confirms second case of coronavirus, at least 50 under investigation</a>

Hubei province, where authorities are rushing to build a 1,000-bed hospital in six days to treat patients, announced on Saturday that there were 658 patients affected by the virus in treatment, 57 of whom were critically ill.

Watch: China tried to cover up deadly 'Coronavirus' outbreak initially

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Shanghai Disneyland was closed from Saturday. Beijing's Lama Temple, where people traditionally make offerings for the new year, has also closed, as have some other temples.

Meanwhile, in Hong Kong, the executive leader declared the virus outbreak as an emergency.

Under the measures Lam took to limit the infection spreading, all schools will remain closed until February 17; while all official visits to mainland China have also been cancelled.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

China can "win the battle" against the coronavirus that has killed 41 people and has infected over 1,200 across the country, President Xi Jinping said on Saturday.

China can "win the battle" against the coronavirus that has killed 41 people and has infected over 1,200 across the country, President Xi Jinping said on Saturday. "As long as we have steadfast confidence, work together, scientific prevention and cures, and precise policies, we will definitely be able to win the battle," President Xi told a meeting of the elite Politburo Standing Committee, according to local media reports. The country is facing a "grave situation" where the coronavirus is "accelerating its spread," Xi also said during the meeting on measures to fight the outbreak. The number of confirmed cases in China stands at 1,287. The virus has also been detected in Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Nepal, and the United States. Also read | Wuhan coronavirus: Dos and don'ts, symptoms There are fears the transmission could accelerate as hundreds of millions of Chinese travel during the Lunar New Year holiday, although many have cancelled their plans. Airports around the world have stepped up screening of passengers from China, though some health officials and experts have questioned the effectiveness of such screenings. Also read | US confirms second case of coronavirus, at least 50 under investigation Hubei province, where authorities are rushing to build a 1,000-bed hospital in six days to treat patients, announced on Saturday that there were 658 patients affected by the virus in treatment, 57 of whom were critically ill. Watch: China tried to cover up deadly 'Coronavirus' outbreak initially × Shanghai Disneyland was closed from Saturday. Beijing's Lama Temple, where people traditionally make offerings for the new year, has also closed, as have some other temples. Meanwhile, in Hong Kong, the executive leader declared the virus outbreak as an emergency. Under the measures Lam took to limit the infection spreading, all schools will remain closed until February 17; while all official visits to mainland China have also been cancelled. (With inputs from agencies)

China can 'win the battle' against coronavirus epidemic: President Xi Jinping

Senior US diplomat Alice Wells on Wednesday criticised the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/cpec-will-provide-little-benefit-to-locals-especially-those-in-volatile-province-of-balochistan-warn-analysts-272824">China-Pakistan Economic Corridor</a> (CPEC) claiming that there is no transparency in the projects.&nbsp;

Speaking at an event in Pakistan, Wells also claimed that the companies which are blacklisted by World Bank got contracts under the multi-billion project.

Wells said, there was no transparency in the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions-blogs/is-china-myanmar-economic-corridor-turning-out-to-be-another-cpec-275688">CPEC projects</a> and Pakistan's debt burden was growing due to the Chinese financing, as per the local media reports.

Wells also reiterated her warnings that it will increase cash-strapped Pakistan's debt burden and urged the country to rethink its involvement in it.

"By getting Chinese financing for the projects, Pakistan was buying expensive loans and as a buyer, it needed to be aware that what it was doing would take a heavy toll on its already struggling economy," Wells said.

Launched in 2015,&nbsp;CPEC is a planned network of roads, railways and energy projects linking China's resource-rich Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region with Pakistan's strategic Gwadar Port on the Arabian Sea.

The US has been critical of the CPEC. Some of the projects had already been completed but others were facing delays as Pakistan and China are working on operational and funding details.

Itw as launched when&nbsp;Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Pakistan in 2015&nbsp;and it now envisages investment of over $60 billion in different projects of development in Pakistan.

 
&nbsp;

Senior US diplomat Alice Wells on Wednesday criticised the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) claiming that there is no transparency in the projects. Speaking at an event in Pakistan, Wells also claimed that the companies which are blacklisted by World Bank got contracts under the multi-billion project.

Senior US diplomat Alice Wells on Wednesday criticised the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) claiming that there is no transparency in the projects. Speaking at an event in Pakistan, Wells also claimed that the companies which are blacklisted by World Bank got contracts under the multi-billion project. Wells said, there was no transparency in the CPEC projects and Pakistan's debt burden was growing due to the Chinese financing, as per the local media reports. Wells also reiterated her warnings that it will increase cash-strapped Pakistan's debt burden and urged the country to rethink its involvement in it. "By getting Chinese financing for the projects, Pakistan was buying expensive loans and as a buyer, it needed to be aware that what it was doing would take a heavy toll on its already struggling economy," Wells said. Launched in 2015, CPEC is a planned network of roads, railways and energy projects linking China's resource-rich Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region with Pakistan's strategic Gwadar Port on the Arabian Sea. The US has been critical of the CPEC. Some of the projects had already been completed but others were facing delays as Pakistan and China are working on operational and funding details. Itw as launched when Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Pakistan in 2015 and it now envisages investment of over $60 billion in different projects of development in Pakistan.

No transparency in CPEC projects; companies blacklisted by World Bank got contracts: Alice Wells

Foreign direct investment (FDI) in&nbsp;China&nbsp;in 2019 grew the most in two years, though outbound investment declined amid continuing capital controls.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-confirms-person-to-person-spread-of-the-new-virus-as-fourth-death-reported-275590">China confirms person-to-person spread of the new virus as fourth death reported</a>

FDI was up 5.8 per cent&nbsp;year-on-year to 941.5 billion yuan ($136.71 billion) last year, the commerce ministry said on Tuesday, the biggest rise since 2017 when it grew 7.9 per cent&nbsp;in yuan terms.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/xi-jinping-bolsters-relationship-with-myanmar-what-does-this-mean-for-india-275031">Xi Jinping bolsters relationship with Myanmar, what does this mean for India?</a>

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/.../china-four-people-killed-due-to-deadly- coronavirus-275596">China</a>&nbsp;remained the second-largest recipient of FDI globally, said Chinese Vice Commerce Minister Qian Keming at a news briefing on Tuesday in Beijing.

China's outbound direct investment (ODI) declined 8.2 per cent&nbsp;to $110.6 billion in 2019, said Qian.

The structure of ODI is more "balanced" with most flows to rental and commercial services, manufacturing, distribution and retail, he said.

China's non-financial ODI rose just 0.3 per cent&nbsp;in 2018 having dropped sharply in 2017 as authorities kept a tight grip on outflows for what they termed "irrational" overseas projects.

Qian said $15 billion of investment accounting for 13.6 per cent&nbsp;of the total flowed to countries that are along the Belt and Road,&nbsp;China's ambitious plan to build a modern version of the Silk Road to link&nbsp;China&nbsp;with Asia, Europe and beyond through large-scale infrastructure projects.

Investment by Chinese firms was once a significant driver of global asset prices from property to mergers and acquisitions. But it has fallen sharply since Beijing tightened capital controls in 2016.

In yuan terms,&nbsp;China's total ODI declined 6 per cent&nbsp;to 807.95 billion yuan in 2019.

Foreign direct investment (FDI) in China in 2019 grew the most in two years, though outbound investment declined amid continuing capital controls. Also read: China confirms person-to-person spread of the new virus as fourth death reported FDI was up 5.

Foreign direct investment (FDI) in China in 2019 grew the most in two years, though outbound investment declined amid continuing capital controls. Also read: China confirms person-to-person spread of the new virus as fourth death reported FDI was up 5.8 per cent year-on-year to 941.5 billion yuan ($136.71 billion) last year, the commerce ministry said on Tuesday, the biggest rise since 2017 when it grew 7.9 per cent in yuan terms. Also read: Xi Jinping bolsters relationship with Myanmar, what does this mean for India? China remained the second-largest recipient of FDI globally, said Chinese Vice Commerce Minister Qian Keming at a news briefing on Tuesday in Beijing. China's outbound direct investment (ODI) declined 8.2 per cent to $110.6 billion in 2019, said Qian. The structure of ODI is more "balanced" with most flows to rental and commercial services, manufacturing, distribution and retail, he said. China's non-financial ODI rose just 0.3 per cent in 2018 having dropped sharply in 2017 as authorities kept a tight grip on outflows for what they termed "irrational" overseas projects. Qian said $15 billion of investment accounting for 13.6 per cent of the total flowed to countries that are along the Belt and Road, China's ambitious plan to build a modern version of the Silk Road to link China with Asia, Europe and beyond through large-scale infrastructure projects. Investment by Chinese firms was once a significant driver of global asset prices from property to mergers and acquisitions. But it has fallen sharply since Beijing tightened capital controls in 2016. In yuan terms, China's total ODI declined 6 per cent to 807.95 billion yuan in 2019.

China's 2019 FDI up 5.8 per cent, outbound investment slumps

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/.../facebook-to-help-in-fight-against-polio- pakistan-274718">Facebook&nbsp;Inc</a> on Saturday blamed a&nbsp;technical&nbsp;error&nbsp;for&nbsp;Chinese&nbsp;leader Xi Jinping’s&nbsp;name&nbsp;appearing as “Mr Shithole” in posts on its platform when translated into English from Burmese, apologising for any offence&nbsp;caused.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/facebook-sued-in-us-federal-court-for-alleged-anti-competitive-conduct-274773">Facebook sued in US federal court for alleged anti competitive conduct</a>

The&nbsp;error&nbsp;came to light on the second day of a visit by the president to the Southeast Asian country, where Xi and state counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi signed dozens of agreements covering massive Beijing-backed infrastructure plans.

A statement about the visit published on Suu Kyi’s official&nbsp;Facebook&nbsp;page was littered with references to “Mr Shithole” when translated to English, while a headline in local news journal the Irrawaddy appeared as “Dinner honours president shithole”.

It was not clear how long the issue lasted but Google’s&nbsp;translation&nbsp;function did not show the same&nbsp;error.

<h6><img alt="Xi Jinping Name error" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="1be5e237-daa1-45a6-88d7-bf861fcf254f" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%285%29_18.jpg" /> 
 
Image: Facebook translation&nbsp;of Myanmar State Counsellor Office's Burmese post to English | Facebook</h6>

"We fixed a&nbsp;technical&nbsp;issue that&nbsp;caused&nbsp;incorrect&nbsp;translations from Burmese to English on&nbsp;Facebook. This should not have happened and we are taking steps to ensure it doesn’t happen again. We sincerely apologize for the offence this has&nbsp;caused,"&nbsp;Facebook&nbsp;said in a statement.

The&nbsp;Facebook&nbsp;system did not have President Xi Jinping's&nbsp;name&nbsp;in its Burmese database and guessed at the&nbsp;translation, the company said.&nbsp;Translation&nbsp;tests of similar words that start with "xi" and "shi" in Burmese also produced "shithole", it added.

Facebook&nbsp;is blocked in mainland China. But it is not blocked in Hong Kong and mainland companies advertise elsewhere on the platform, making China&nbsp;Facebook’s biggest country for revenue after the United States. It is setting up a new engineering team to focus specifically on the lucrative&nbsp;Chinese&nbsp;advertising business, Reuters reported last week.

Facebook&nbsp;has faced numerous problems with&nbsp;translation&nbsp;from Burmese in the past. In 2018 it temporarily removed the function after a Reuters report showed the tool was producing bizarre results.

An investigation documented how the company was failing in its efforts to combat vitriolic Burmese language posts about Myanmar’s Rohingya Muslims, some 730,000 of whom fled a military crackdown in 2017 that the U.N has said was conducted with “genocidal intent”.

It also showed the&nbsp;translation&nbsp;feature was flawed, citing an anti-Rohingya post advocating killing Muslims that was translated into English as “I shouldn’t have a rainbow in Myanmar”.

Facebook Inc on Saturday blamed a technical error for Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s name appearing as “Mr Shithole” in posts on its platform when translated into English from Burmese, apologising for any offence caused.

Facebook Inc on Saturday blamed a technical error for Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s name appearing as “Mr Shithole” in posts on its platform when translated into English from Burmese, apologising for any offence caused. Also read: Facebook sued in US federal court for alleged anti competitive conduct The error came to light on the second day of a visit by the president to the Southeast Asian country, where Xi and state counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi signed dozens of agreements covering massive Beijing-backed infrastructure plans. A statement about the visit published on Suu Kyi’s official Facebook page was littered with references to “Mr Shithole” when translated to English, while a headline in local news journal the Irrawaddy appeared as “Dinner honours president shithole”. It was not clear how long the issue lasted but Google’s translation function did not show the same error. Image: Facebook translation of Myanmar State Counsellor Office's Burmese post to English | Facebook "We fixed a technical issue that caused incorrect translations from Burmese to English on Facebook. This should not have happened and we are taking steps to ensure it doesn’t happen again. We sincerely apologize for the offence this has caused," Facebook said in a statement. The Facebook system did not have President Xi Jinping's name in its Burmese database and guessed at the translation, the company said. Translation tests of similar words that start with "xi" and "shi" in Burmese also produced "shithole", it added. Facebook is blocked in mainland China. But it is not blocked in Hong Kong and mainland companies advertise elsewhere on the platform, making China Facebook’s biggest country for revenue after the United States. It is setting up a new engineering team to focus specifically on the lucrative Chinese advertising business, Reuters reported last week. Facebook has faced numerous problems with translation from Burmese in the past. In 2018 it temporarily removed the function after a Reuters report showed the tool was producing bizarre results. An investigation documented how the company was failing in its efforts to combat vitriolic Burmese language posts about Myanmar’s Rohingya Muslims, some 730,000 of whom fled a military crackdown in 2017 that the U.N has said was conducted with “genocidal intent”. It also showed the translation feature was flawed, citing an anti-Rohingya post advocating killing Muslims that was translated into English as “I shouldn’t have a rainbow in Myanmar”.

Technical error caused vulgar translation of Xi Jinping's name: Facebook

Chinese President Xi Jinping is on a two-day visit to Myanmar. China and Myanmar are marking 70 years of their ties. 33 new agreements have been signed in the visit.

China, Myanmar sign 33 agreements

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