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Xi, Trump Discussion on Coronavirus Breaks Logjam on U.S. Assistance
7 February 2020
EIRNS—China’s President Xi Jinping held a telephone discussion with US President Donald Trump to brief him on the comprehensive measures Beijing has taken to combat the novel coronavirus last night (U.S. time), which both parties reported positively. According to Xinhua’s report, Xi described to Trump the “national mobilization, across-the-board deployment and swift responses” which China has carried out in its “people’s war against the epidemic.” Xi told him that “China is dedicated to safeguarding the lives and health of not only its own people but also people all over the world,” and so has kept the World Health Organization and other countries, including the United States, fully informed on the epidemic. Xinhua reported that Xi stressed that “countries around the world need to pool their efforts to fight epidemics,” and that Trump had offered to send experts to China and said the U.S. is willing to send other assistance. The official White House statement reported that “President Trump expressed confidence in China’s strength and resilience in confronting the challenge of the 2019 novel coronavirus outbreak,” but President Trump’s tweets on their conversation make clear that their discussion was detailed and spirited: “Just had a long and very good conversation by phone with President Xi of China. He is strong, sharp and powerfully focused on leading the counterattack on the Coronavirus. He feels they are doing very well, even building hospitals in a matter of only days,” Trump tweeted this morning. “Nothing is easy, but he will be successful, especially as the weather starts to warm & the virus hopefully becomes weaker, and then gone. Great discipline is taking place in China, as President Xi strongly leads what will be a very successful operation. We are working closely with China to help!” Speaking to reporters before heading to North Carolina this morning, Trump again praised his call with Xi, and what China is doing. When a reporter shouted out, “What about China’s cover-up on the corona virus,” Trump countered that “China is working really hard... I spoke to Xi late last night,” and China is doing a professional job. They are working with the CDC and world health organizations. They are “in a tough situation, and doing a very good job.” Diehard China hawk Mike Pompeo then announced midday that the State Department had facilitated the transportion this week of nearly 17.8 tons of donated medical supplies “to the Chinese people,” including masks, gowns, gauze, respirators, and the U.S. government “is prepared to spend up to $100 million in existing funds to assist China and other impacted countries, both directly and through multilateral organizations” to combat the virus. White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow told reporters today that the two presidents had also spoken about the Phase One trade deal, and agreed “that while the virus may slow down US exports and Chinese purchases of US exports, it will be made up before the year is out.” All agreed that both presidents intend “to continue extensive communication and cooperation between both sides.” [DEA/GGS] |