BEIJING, April 3 (INP): China on Thursday urged the United States to stop politicizing the health issue and instead focus on the safety of its people.

“We should listen to WHO and experts on epidemiology and disease control rather than those politicians who are habitual liars.”, a spokesperson of the Chinese Foreign Ministry Hua Chunying said here at a regular news briefing.

According to China Economic Net, Hua said. “In fact, a senior WHO official has recently refuted unwarranted accusations on "China's untransparent data" in a press conference in Geneva.”

“We sympathize with the US people as they are facing a severe situation, and I can imagine why some in the US are trying so hard to shift the blame. We don't want to get into any meaningless argument with them.” Hua added.

The spokesperson slammed some U.S. politicians' "shameless" remarks that cast suspicion over China's reporting of coronavirus cases in the country.

While exposing the Trump administration’s intention to shift blame to China for its slow response to the epidemic, Hua Chunying threw a pack of questions, pointing out the unusual measures and orders given by the U.S. government in very critical time to curb the novel coronavirus epidemic.

"We understand the U.S. is facing difficulties and some officials are under pressure and feel deeply for the hardship of American people," Hua said. "Out of humanitarian spirit, we would like to provide support and help to them. But slander, smears and blame games cannot make up for lost time. More lies will only waste more time and lead to more lives lost."

Hua added, “On the origin of the virus, the Chinese government's position has been consistent. It is a serious matter that requires scientific, fact-based and professional assessment made by experts.

Now there are various reports on experts' science-based and authoritative opinions. These views should be valued and respected by all, including those politicians in the US. China invited WHO experts to visit Wuhan as part of a joint mission.”

“As some in the US are so obsessed with the issue, we advise the US side to also invite WHO and international experts to visit the country and find out the truth.” Hua went on.

Hua said China has been open and transparent about the coronavirus outbreak that began in the country late last year.

"Can the few US individuals accusing China tell the world if the outbreak had hit the US first, would it have handled the situation better than the Chinese government?" Hua qustioned.

The reality is that China's been more transparent with respect to the coronavirus than certainly they were for other infectious diseases over the last 15 years," he said. "But what appears evident now is long before the world learned in December, China was dealing with this, maybe as much as a month earlier than that."

INP/JAVED