Mr Blinken also raised other contentious topics, including China’s treatment of Uighur Muslims, Hong Kong and Taiwan. Mr Yang, China’s top diplomat, expressed Beijing’s serious concern to Mr Blinken that some people in the United States were spreading the “absurd story” about the coronavirus escaping from a Wuhan laboratory, Chinese state media said. Washington should work with Beijing to put ties “back on track”, Mr Yang said. “We urge the United States to respect facts and science, refrain from politicizing the issue . and focus on international cooperation in the fight against the pandemic,” Mr Yang said.

Source: The Irish Times June 11, 2021 17:37 UTC