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Earlier on Monday, the New York Times cited advocacy groups and
researchers as saying there had been a surge of verbal and
physical assaults on Asian-Americans reported in newspapers and
to tip lines as the virus has taken hold in the United States.
Trump last week ratcheted up his rhetoric against China over the
coronavirus, saying Beijing should have acted faster to warn the
world after the disease outbreak there. He also dismissed
criticism that his labeling it the "Chinese virus" was racist.
He brushed aside a reporter's question on Wednesday as to
whether it was potentially harmful to Asian-Americans to give
the disease that name, as well for an unnamed White House
official to have privately termed it the "kung flu."
On Monday, Trump tweeted: "It is very important that we totally
protect our Asian American community in the United States, and
all around the world.
"They are amazing people, and the spreading of the Virus.... is
NOT their fault in any way, shape, or form. They are working
closely with us to get rid of it. WE WILL PREVAIL TOGETHER!"
Trump repeated his remarks at a news conference with his
coronavirus task force. Asked what prompted them, he replied:
"It seems that there could be a little bit of nasty language
toward the Asian-Americans in our country and I don't like that
at all ... so I just wanted to make that point, because they're
blaming China, and they are making statements to great American
citizens that happened to be of Asian heritage, and I'm not
gonna let that happen."
Trump has repeatedly criticized China and its handling of the
coronavirus outbreak, but he has been careful to avoid
criticisms of its president, Xi Jinping.
On Friday, Trump said he greatly respected China and Xi, but
added it was unfortunate the coronavirus began in China and got
out of control. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said
Beijing's delay in sharing information about the virus had
created risks for people worldwide.
At the same time, Trump and his administration have angrily
rejected attempts by some Chinese officials to blame the virus
on the U.S. military.
The dispute is just the latest irritant in relations between the
world two largest economies already strained by issues ranging
from trade to press freedom.
Speaking to AXIOS and HBO over the weekend, China's ambassador
to Washington appeared to distance himself from a foreign
ministry spokesman who blamed the U.S. military for the virus,
saying its origin was for scientists to determine, not
diplomats.
Cui Tiankai said the United States and China needed to work
together to combat the virus and he hoped people would follow
World Health Organization rules and avoid creating a stigma by
linking the virus to a particular location.
(Reporting by David Brunnstrom; Additional reportng by Matt
Spetalnick; Editing by Tom Brown and Cynthia Osterman)
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