Chinese diplomat backpedals on blaming US for coronavirus

Foreign Ministry spokesman says his tweet reflects 'righteous anger of many Chinese people'

Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian's social media posts have created a firestorm of criticism in the West. © AP

TSUKASA HADANO, Nikkei staff writer

April 8, 2020 00:23 JST

BEIJING -- The Chinese official who had accused the U.S. military of bringing the novel coronavirus to Wuhan walked back his statement on Tuesday, saying he was only trying to get back at American politicians stigmatizing China.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian held a news conference for the first time in roughly a month, after tweeting on March 12 that it "might be U.S. Army who brought the epidemic to Wuhan."