Envoy: Politicizing virus origin-tracing against humanitarianism

In this file photo, Chinese Ambassador to the United States Cui Tiankai speaks at a dialogue in Grand Rapids, the United States, on Feb. 8, 2019. (WANG PING / XINHUA)

WASHINGTON – It is against the spirit of humanitarianism to politicize the origin-tracing of COVID-19 as the world is still under the threat of the pandemic, Chinese Ambassador to the United States Cui Tiankai has said.

"I think when people make accusations, they have to prove these accusations. And to say these things at the time when we're still faced with the pandemic is against the spirit of humanitarianism," Cui said when Fareed Zakaria, anchor of CNN's GPS, raised a question in an interview aired Sunday on allegations that the virus was leaked from the Wuhan virology institute lab.

I think when people make accusations, they have to prove these accusations. And to say these things at the time when we're still faced with the pandemic is against the spirit of humanitarianism. 

Ciu Tiankai, 

Chinese Ambassador to the United States 

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"I think people have to be careful not to make groundless accusations," said Cui, adding that now an expert group from the World Health Organization (WHO) is working in Wuhan with their Chinese counterpart.

"They are working very hard. They are trying to look at all the facts. We are very supportive to their work," he said.

Cui said he has also participated in some conferences between Chinese and foreign experts.

"They are real scientists. They are looking at the whole pandemic from the point of view of scientists, not any politicians," he said.

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The ambassador said there's a certain need for more tracing to be done all over the world in order to really trace down the origin of the virus as there have been a number of media reports about early cases in other countries.

"So the human race could be better prepared when we are faced with another virus again. So please do not politicize the whole issue. Please let the scientists do their professional job," he said. 

China-US Relations

Cui also discussed China-US relations in the same interview and said that, without external involvement, it will be "easier and more possible" for Asian neighbors to solve their issues.

"But Fareed, please look at the map. All the issues you mentioned and some other issues, they are either part of Chinese territory or in places very close to China," said Cui responding to a question on the so-called "much more assertive" foreign policy by China.

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"So who is on the offensive, who is on the defensive, you just have a look at the map. They are all far away from the United States," he said.

The ambassador said China have been very consistent in its foreign policy. "It's an independent policy of peace. Of course, we safeguard our sovereignty and independence. There's no doubt about that."

China and its neighbors have been able to address their disputes and solve them through dialogue and negotiation, Cui said, for instance, China concluded treaties and agreements with most of its neighbors on the land about the borders.

"It was all done by peaceful negotiations. We still have a couple of them left, but we're ready to work with them, negotiate with them, and in the meantime, maintain stability and tranquility in the areas," he said. "Without external involvement, it will be easier and more possible for the neighbors to solve the issues between themselves."

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The fact is, whenever there is more involvement by the United States, there is "greater instability, anywhere in the world. Look at the Middle East, look at some other places like Latin America. It's so obvious that when you are 'rebalancing', or 'pivoting,' whatever the word might be, then there's more instability in that region."

Cui said there is "a clear need for good sense of mutual respect" in putting US-China ties back on "a stable and constructive track".

"You don't have an effective foreign policy just by talking tough or playing tough. This is not the right way of doing diplomacy. I think there is a clear need for good sense of mutual respect. People have to show good will and good faith," Cui said.