Foreign Ministry hits back at Pompeo's remarks

China denounced the "despicable practice" of individual US politicians to stigmatize China and Wuhan by association with the novel coronavirus, saying it is disrespectful of science and the World Health Organization.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang made the remarks when asked about US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's public reference to the novel coronavirus as the "Wuhan virus" or "Wuhan coronavirus" recently.

Geng also refuted Pompeo's claim the US response to the coronavirus outbreak was hampered by so-called incomplete data from China.

"The Chinese side has notified the WHO and relevant countries and regions, including the US, of epidemic information in an open, transparent and responsible attitude since the epidemic outbreak," Geng said at a regular press conference in Beijing.

Pompeo's attempt to slander China's efforts against the epidemic will not succeed, he added.