• News
  • Sport
  • TV
  • Radio
  • Education
  • TV Licences
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
  • SOUTH AFRICA
  • POLITICS
  • BUSINESS
  • SPORT
  • AFRICA
  • WORLD
  • SCI-TECH
  • LIFESTYLE
  • FEATURES
  • OPINION
Home World

Trump says China’s coronavirus numbers seem ‘on the light side’

2 April 2020, 5:47 AM  |
Reuters Reuters |  @SABCNews
Trump said he had discussed how China had dealt with the coronavirus outbreak in a phone call with Chinese President Xi Jinping last Friday, but "not so much the numbers."

Trump said he had discussed how China had dealt with the coronavirus outbreak in a phone call with Chinese President Xi Jinping last Friday, but "not so much the numbers."

Image: Reuters

Trump said he had discussed how China had dealt with the coronavirus outbreak in a phone call with Chinese President Xi Jinping last Friday, but "not so much the numbers."

US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday the coronavirus statistics China was reporting seemed “a little bit on the light side,” while his national security adviser said Washington had no way of knowing if Beijing’s figures were accurate.

The comments came after a senior Republican lawmaker cast doubt on Beijing’s data and Bloomberg News said a classified US intelligence report had concluded that China had under-reported the total cases and deaths it had suffered.

The coronavirus outbreak began in China in late 2019 but Beijing has reported fewer cases and deaths than in the United States, which now has the world’s largest outbreak, with 214 000 confirmed cases and 4 800 deaths.

Trump told a daily briefing by his coronavirus task force that he had not received an intelligence report on China’s data, but added:

“The numbers seem to be a little bit on the light side – and I am being nice when I say that – relative to what we witnessed and what was reported.”

Trump said he had discussed how China had dealt with the coronavirus outbreak in a phone call with Chinese President Xi Jinping last Friday, but “not so much the numbers.”

Trump, who has toned down his criticism of China’s handling of the virus outbreak since the call, also said the US relationship with China was “very good” and both sides wanted to maintain multi-billion dollar trade deal reached earlier this year.

“As to whether or not their numbers are accurate,” he added,”I am not an accountant from China.”

Trump’s national security adviser, Robert O’Brien, told the same briefing Washington was “just not (in) the position to confirm any of the numbers that are coming out of China.”

“There’s lots of public reporting on whether the numbers are too low,” he said. “You got access to those reports that are coming out of Chinese social media … we just have no way to confirm any of those numbers.

Share article
Tags: ChinaDonald Trump
Previous Post

S.Korea to allow absentee voting for coronavirus patients in parliamentary elections

Next Post

SA Military Ombud remains accessible to all

Related Posts

FILE PHOTO: Pakistan's former President, Pervez Musharraf, addresses his supporters after his arrival from Dubai at Jinnah International airport in Karachi March 24, 2013

Former Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf dies in Dubai after years in exile

5 February 2023, 11:06 AM
A balloon flies in the sky over Billings, Montana, U.S. February 1, 2023 in this picture obtained from social media.

Suspected Chinese spy balloon shot down by US military

5 February 2023, 8:16 AM
Rescuers use a crane to remove debris of a multistorey residential building damaged in recent shelling in the course of Russia-Ukraine conflict in Donetsk, Russian-controlled Ukraine, February 4, 2023. REUTERS/Pavel Klimov

Ukraine’s Zelenskiy says situation at the front getting tougher

4 February 2023, 8:54 PM

Earthquake of magnitude 5.9 strikes Eastern New Guinea region: EMSC

4 February 2023, 3:58 PM
Firefighters at a scene of a blaze

Train derailment causes massive fire in Ohio: Media

4 February 2023, 9:23 AM
One of the tanks supplied by NATO countries.

Ukraine says new tanks will serve as ‘iron fist’ in counter-offensive

3 February 2023, 9:02 PM
Next Post

SA Military Ombud remains accessible to all

Most Viewed

  • 24hrs
  • Week
  • Month
  • Registration at Unisa closes on Friday, but management says no need to panic
  • King of Bacardi music ‘Vusi Ma R5’ killed in Soshanguve
  • Committee wants to halt planned demolition of North West hospital
  • VIDEO: Mabuza resigns as SA Deputy President
  • Shock over proposed SA sponsorship of Tottenham Hotspur
  • Parts of the Northern Cape to be exempted from rolling blackouts
  • Registration at Unisa closes on Friday, but management says no need to panic
  • VIDEO | St Benedict College’s Matric learner gets 11 distinctions
  • Limpopo matriculant from child-headed household attains diploma pass
  • Female circumcision practice thriving in Eastern Cape
  • VIDEO: Mabuza resigns as SA Deputy President
  • Budding Stellenbosch FC star reportedly stabbed to death
  • EFF vows to disrupt SONA
  • Green comet to be visible from SA next week
  • Criminal syndicate within ANC benefited from defunct VBS Bank: Mapaila

LATEST

A vial of the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine is pictured at the International Community Health Services clinic in Seattle, Washington, U.S., March 20, 2019.
  • Sci-tech

Cape Town on campaign to curb measles outbreak


A view inside the National Assembly.
  • Politics

Four new ANC MPs to be sworn-in on Monday


Free State Premier Sisi Ntombela.
  • Politics

Mxolisi Dukwana touted to replace Sisi Ntombela as Free State premier


Pope Francis greets people during the Holy Mass at John Garang Mausoleum, during his apostolic journey, in Juba, South Sudan, February 5, 2023.
  • Africa

Pope Francis wraps up South Sudan trip, urges end to ‘blind fury’ of violence


FILE PHOTO: Pakistan's former President, Pervez Musharraf, addresses his supporters after his arrival from Dubai at Jinnah International airport in Karachi March 24, 2013
  • World

Former Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf dies in Dubai after years in exile


Deputy President David Mabuza convenes a meeting with senior government officials at the Union Buildings in Pretoria in this picture taken on 05 December 2019.
  • Politics

Mabuza asked to remain in his role until transition finalised


Weather

  • About the SABC
  • Contact Us
  • Jobs
  • Advertise
  • Disclaimer
  • Site Map

SABC © 2023

No Result
View All Result
  • SOUTH AFRICA
  • POLITICS
  • BUSINESS
  • SPORT
  • AFRICA
  • WORLD
  • SCI-TECH
  • LIFESTYLE
  • FEATURES
  • OPINION

© 2022

Previous S.Korea to allow absentee voting for coronavirus patients in parliamentary elections
Next SA Military Ombud remains accessible to all