Beijing calls out US over its spread of "political virus" in Security Council

China's ambassador to the United Nations called on the US to stop abusing the international platform for the spread of a "political virus" and to "behave like a major power" in promoting international cooperation against global challenges.

"China resolutely opposes and rejects the baseless accusations by the US. For quite a while, some US politicians have been obsessed with attacking other countries and UN bodies," said Zhang Jun, China's permanent representative to the UN, during a virtual Security Council (UNSC) meeting on global governance amid the COVID-19 pandemic on Thursday.

"Abusing the platform of the UN and its Security Council, the US has been spreading political virus and disinformation and creating confrontation and division. Such practice cannot defeat the virus. On the contrary, it has seriously disrupted the joint efforts of the international community to fight the pandemic," the envoy added.

The summit-level debate was held during the General Assembly's high-level meetings.

In her remarks, Kelly Craft, the US permanent representative to the UN, echoed the US call at Tuesday's General Debate to hold China accountable for the novel coronavirus outbreak. She also described the World Health Organization as a "corrupted international organization".

In response, Zhang said Craft's remarks were "at odds with the atmosphere of the meeting" during which a vast majority of Security Council members called for upholding multilateralism and strengthening solidarity and cooperation.

Zhang's views were echoed by Russia's UN envoy as well.

'Groundless accusations'

Vassily Nebenzia, Russia's permanent representative to the UN, voiced opposition and concerns regarding the "groundless accusations" by the US ambassador.

"We regret that the representative of the United States has chosen this event and the Security Council platform to throw groundless accusations at a UNSC member-state, and, for that matter, at the entire Security Council at large. To be frank, we did not quite get the point and the pathos of those accusations," he said.

"A number of countries are increasingly tempted to look abroad to find those who are responsible for their problems at home. There are obvious attempts by individual states to use the current situation to promote self-serving and fleeting interests and to settle scores with unwanted governments or geopolitical rivals," he said.

Russia considers the frequent attacks on the UN system in general and its specialized agencies to be "absolutely unjustified", the ambassador said.

In his briefing to the Security Council, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the COVID-19 pandemic is a clear test of international cooperation, "a test we have essentially failed", he said.

He appealed to the countries to set aside their differences in the face of the pandemic, which he said has exposed gaps in the multilateral system.

Noting that China has made its timeline of its response to the virus clear, Zhang stressed the Chinese people had made great effort and sacrifice in defeating the epidemic.

"The US should understand that its failure in handling COVID-19 is totally its own fault," the ambassador said.

"Before pointing fingers at others, perhaps the US politicians need to give honest answers to these questions. If someone should be held accountable, it should be a few US politicians themselves," Zhang said.

"What the US needs to do is stop the political manipulation, stop labeling or politicizing the virus, focus on combating the virus at home and support the UN and the WHO in playing their roles," the envoy said.

"The US always portrays itself as a 'force for good' and vows to play a leading role in global affairs. China, like many other countries, welcomes such efforts of the US to make contributions to world peace and progress of humanity," the ambassador said.

That said, a good leader must lead by example, Zhang remarked. For instance, a good leader should "be a model in following international law and fulfilling international obligations".