Former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations and South Carolina governor Nikki Haley confronted China’s Ambassador to the UN via Twitter on Wednesday.
Haley, an outspoken critic of Communist China, urged the U.S. to hold an emergency UN Security Council meeting to discuss China’s early response to the virus. “As soon as the UN opens again, the US should call for an emergency Security Council meeting on China’s involvement and knowledge of the virus. When did they know & decisions made. If ever the was a time to have a world discussion, it would be following this pandemic,” she tweeted.
As soon as the UN opens again, the US should call for an emergency Security Council meeting on China’s involvement and knowledge of the virus. When did they know & decisions made. If ever the was a time to have a world discussion, it would be following this pandemic. #GetAnswers
— Nikki Haley (@NikkiHaley) April 22, 2020
China’s Ambassador to the UN, Zhang Jun, replied to her tweet, saying, “All the facts are on the table. Epidemics may occur anywhere. The most important thing is to defeat the virus and save lives. China has done its job and is now working hard in helping others. Attempts of scapegoating or stigma go nowhere.”
Haley encouraged Zhang to speak during a Security Council meeting and face questioning. “I’m assuming you would have no problem expressing that in a Security Council meeting. Other countries including the US have some questions we would like answered,” she said.
Thank you @ChinaAmbUN. I’m assuming you would have no problem expressing that in a Security Council meeting. Other countries including the US have some questions we would like answered.
— Nikki Haley (@NikkiHaley) April 23, 2020
Numerous reports have indicated China intentionally withheld information about coronavirus and its potential to cause a pandemic in the early critical days of the outbreak. China also revised Wuhan’s death toll to a number 50 percent higher than originally reported, suggesting they downplayed the magnitude of the deadly virus. Estimates suggest Wuhan’s death toll is even higher than China admits.
On April 2, Haley called out China’s coronavirus reporting. “China has reported only 82,000 coronavirus cases & 3300 deaths in a nation of 1.5 billion people. This is clearly not accurate. China cares more about its reputation than helping the rest of the world defeat a virus that was started in their country,” she tweeted.
China has reported only 82,000 coronavirus cases & 3300 deaths in a nation of 1.5 billion people.This is clearly not accurate.China cares more about its reputation than helping the rest of the world defeat a virus that was started in their country. #WeWontForget@standamericanow
— Nikki Haley (@NikkiHaley) April 2, 2020
Aside from its secrecy surrounding coronavirus timeline and data, China has been using the coronavirus pandemic as a distraction to its advantage, ramping up military activity in the South China Sea, claiming and naming disputed islands and reefs, and putting pressure on Taiwan. Haley has strongly condemned China’s aggression and called on the U.S. to “keep the pressure on the Communist Chinese government when it comes to national security issues, not only on coronavirus.”
Haley also just launched a new China project and a petition to Congress calling on lawmakers to take five steps addressing China’s detriment to the world. The petition is released on Haley’s new website, StopCommunistChina.com, which is backed by her advocacy organization, Stand For America.
The petition urges members of Congress to probe whether China covered up the coronavirus outbreak, end the United States’ reliance on China for critical medical supplies and pharmaceuticals, make China pay its fair share to the United Nations, back Taiwan against China’s bullying, and mandate all U.S. colleges disclose Chinese funding.
“We have long warned about the threats China’s Communist government poses. Now, in a time of crisis, we are seeing just how dangerous China is. The time for warnings is over. We must act and protect American security, health, and prosperity,” Haley said in a statement provided to American Military News.
