Aggressive Chinese criticism of U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, right, appears to reflect a defensive effort to protect President Xi Jinping, left. (Nikkei Montage/Source photo by Reuters and Xinhua/Kyodo)

China's global campaign for virus-response praise met with silence

Beijing's full-court press on Pompeo tied to Communist Party's 2021 anniversary

KATSUJI NAKAZAWA, Nikkei senior staff writer

May 7, 2020 04:00 JST

TOKYO -- China's state media has raised the volume on its criticism of U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, accusing him of spewing poison, spreading lies and turning his back on humanity for his comments about the coronavirus pandemic.

State broadcaster China Central Television and the Communist Party flagship newspaper People's Daily have taken turns throwing punches at the top American diplomat.