



He claimed: “In January, when doctors in Wuhan discovered there was human-to-human transmission of COVID-19, Beijing silenced them, and lied to the world about the dangers of the new virus. “It refused to engage with the World Health Organisation, leaving other countries to guess the nature of the threat. And it failed to take action against its notorious wet markets.” Mr Timothy suggested China had chosen to exploit the geopolitical opportunity presented by the pandemic rather than take responsibility for its role in the outbreak.

He said: “It refuses to countenance an international inquiry into the origins of the virus, and has instructed its diplomats and state-controlled media companies to launch a campaign of relentless misinformation. “Its diplomats and media outlets are spreading fake news, claiming COVID-19 began in America. “A Chinese foreign ministry spokesman claimed that ‘it might be the US army who brought the epidemic to Wuhan’, demanding ‘an explanation’ from Washington. “Chinese embassies deny that the virus was ‘made in China’. READ MORE:Boris told to take tougher stance on China – Tory MPs launch new group

“And Chinese newspapers have attacked Dominic Raab, Britain’s Foreign Secretary, for ‘questioning’ Beijing’s actions. “Sounding every bit like Russian propagandists, they taunt, ‘did your US master teach you so?'” Mr Timothy said such rhetoric was not the conduct of a responsible regime in the midst of a global emergency but was consistent with the actions of a state that breaks international laws and norms as a matter of policy. And he said an examination of Beijing’s behaviour in international institutions proved China was not a trustworthy partner.