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| Coronavirus: US-China virus row flares with senator's comments | Coronavirus: US-China virus row flares with senator's comments |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| The row between the US and China over the coronavirus outbreak has flared again with a US senator accusing Beijing of trying to block the development of a vaccine in the West. | The row between the US and China over the coronavirus outbreak has flared again with a US senator accusing Beijing of trying to block the development of a vaccine in the West. |
| Rick Scott said evidence had come via "our intelligence community" but provided no details to back it up. | Rick Scott said evidence had come via "our intelligence community" but provided no details to back it up. |
| China meanwhile issued a document defending its virus actions, saying it briefed the US as early as 4 January. | |
| Deaths caused by the virus passed 400,000 worldwide on Sunday. | Deaths caused by the virus passed 400,000 worldwide on Sunday. |
| The figure is provided in a count by Johns Hopkins University, which also shows confirmed global infections close to the 7 million mark. | The figure is provided in a count by Johns Hopkins University, which also shows confirmed global infections close to the 7 million mark. |
| What did Rick Scott say? | What did Rick Scott say? |
| The Republican senator for Florida, who serves on the armed services and homeland security committees among others, was speaking on the BBC's Andrew Marr Show. | The Republican senator for Florida, who serves on the armed services and homeland security committees among others, was speaking on the BBC's Andrew Marr Show. |
| He said: "We have got to get this vaccine done. Unfortunately we have evidence that communist China is trying to sabotage us or slow it down." | He said: "We have got to get this vaccine done. Unfortunately we have evidence that communist China is trying to sabotage us or slow it down." |
| Mr Scott was pressed on the issue twice. He said: "China does not want us, and England and Europe to do it first. They've decided to be an adversary to America and democracies around the world." | Mr Scott was pressed on the issue twice. He said: "China does not want us, and England and Europe to do it first. They've decided to be an adversary to America and democracies around the world." |
| Mr Scott, who has been a staunch supporter of President Donald Trump, was questioned again, saying the "evidence" had come through the intelligence community and armed services, adding: "There are things I can't discuss... I get provided information." | Mr Scott, who has been a staunch supporter of President Donald Trump, was questioned again, saying the "evidence" had come through the intelligence community and armed services, adding: "There are things I can't discuss... I get provided information." |
| He said if "England or the US does it first, we're going to share. Communist China, they are not going to share." | He said if "England or the US does it first, we're going to share. Communist China, they are not going to share." |
| What is the background to this? | What is the background to this? |
| The Trump administration has consistently attacked China over its handling of the coronavirus outbreak. | The Trump administration has consistently attacked China over its handling of the coronavirus outbreak. |
| Mr Trump has referred to coronavirus regularly as the "China virus". He also said he has proof Covid-19 originated in a Chinese laboratory in Wuhan. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said there was "enormous evidence" to back the theory, which Beijing has dismissed. | Mr Trump has referred to coronavirus regularly as the "China virus". He also said he has proof Covid-19 originated in a Chinese laboratory in Wuhan. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said there was "enormous evidence" to back the theory, which Beijing has dismissed. |
| The Five Eyes intelligence alliance, which includes the UK and the US, said there was no such evidence, as did the World Health Organization (WHO). | The Five Eyes intelligence alliance, which includes the UK and the US, said there was no such evidence, as did the World Health Organization (WHO). |
| But the WHO is another point of contention for Mr Trump's administration. It has pulled out of the body, accusing it of being China's puppet. | But the WHO is another point of contention for Mr Trump's administration. It has pulled out of the body, accusing it of being China's puppet. |
| Mr Trump accused Chinese officials of covering up the virus early on and saying they could have stopped the disease from spreading. | Mr Trump accused Chinese officials of covering up the virus early on and saying they could have stopped the disease from spreading. |
| This week he threatened to bar passenger flights from China from 16 June, after which Beijing said it would loosen restrictions on international air travel. | This week he threatened to bar passenger flights from China from 16 June, after which Beijing said it would loosen restrictions on international air travel. |
| Then there is the backdrop of the US-China trade dispute, which saw the imposition of hundreds of billions of dollars worth of tariffs on each another's goods. | Then there is the backdrop of the US-China trade dispute, which saw the imposition of hundreds of billions of dollars worth of tariffs on each another's goods. |
| What is China's side of the story? | What is China's side of the story? |
| It has not yet responded specifically to Mr Scott's accusations but in a new document it has published on its response to the virus, Beijing says it briefed the United States as early as 4 January, when the disease was still largely unknown. | It has not yet responded specifically to Mr Scott's accusations but in a new document it has published on its response to the virus, Beijing says it briefed the United States as early as 4 January, when the disease was still largely unknown. |
| It lists a telephone briefing given by the head of the Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention to his US counterpart. | It lists a telephone briefing given by the head of the Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention to his US counterpart. |
| China says in the document it has acted in an open, transparent and responsible manner. | China says in the document it has acted in an open, transparent and responsible manner. |
| The WHO has praised China's actions, saying they helped slow the spread of the virus, particularly with the quick and voluntary sharing of the virus's genetic code. | The WHO has praised China's actions, saying they helped slow the spread of the virus, particularly with the quick and voluntary sharing of the virus's genetic code. |
| China's foreign ministry has repeatedly accused the Trump administration of trying to distract from its own problems tackling the crisis. | China's foreign ministry has repeatedly accused the Trump administration of trying to distract from its own problems tackling the crisis. |
| The US has more infections and deaths than any other nation. | The US has more infections and deaths than any other nation. |
| One Chinese foreign ministry spokesman also promoted the idea - without evidence - that Covid-19 might have originated in the US. | |
| Where are we with a vaccine? | Where are we with a vaccine? |
| Dozens of groups around the world are researching vaccines, with some entering clinical trials. | Dozens of groups around the world are researching vaccines, with some entering clinical trials. |
| The first human trial data appears positive, showing patients produced antibodies that could neutralise the virus. | The first human trial data appears positive, showing patients produced antibodies that could neutralise the virus. |
| However, no-one knows how effective any of these vaccines will be. | However, no-one knows how effective any of these vaccines will be. |
| A vaccine would normally take years, if not longer, to develop, although given the huge effort some experts believe there could be a vaccine by mid-2021, but again there are no guarantees. | A vaccine would normally take years, if not longer, to develop, although given the huge effort some experts believe there could be a vaccine by mid-2021, but again there are no guarantees. |