China says Trump's 'Chinese virus' tweet smears China

[March 17, 2020]    BEIJING (Reuters) - China's foreign ministry said on Tuesday that U.S. President Donald Trump's tweet calling the coronavirus a "Chinese virus" smears China and said Beijing strongly opposes Trump's usage of the words.

President Donald Trump holds a news briefing on the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) while accompanied by members of the task force at the White House in Washington, U.S., March 16, 2020. REUTERS/Leah Millis

Foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang told reporters during a daily briefing that the U.S. should first take care of its own matters.

(Reporting by Yew Lun Tian; writing by Se Young Lee; Editing by Christian Schmollinger)

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