Under fire, Xi recasts himself as early coronavirus fighter

BEIJING -- As criticism mounts over China's initial response to the new coronavirus, President Xi Jinping is aggressively pushing a narrative that the leadership was taking action weeks before previously reported.

Xi is also sending his close aides to Hubei Province -- home to the city of Wuhan at the center of the outbreak -- boosting his direct involvement in the response as the country's leadership works to contain public discontent over the situation.