Trump: "I Do Not Regret Saying 'Chinese Virus'... But Will Avoid Using the Term"

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Hyunjin] U.S. President Donald Trump said he would stop referring to COVID-19 as the "Chinese virus" but added that he does not regret using the term.

According to Bloomberg and other sources on the 24th (local time), President Trump said in an interview with Fox News regarding his use of the term "Chinese virus" for COVID-19, "Look, everyone knows it came from China."

President Trump stated, "I have decided not to make a big deal out of it anymore," adding, "I think I made a big deal out of it. I believe people will understand." He also said, "They (China) started by saying our soldiers started it, and everything began there," adding, "Our soldiers did nothing related to this."

In the U.S., emphasizing China as the origin of COVID-19 and calling it the "Chinese virus," on the 13th, Zhao Lijian, spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, claimed on his Twitter that "U.S. military personnel who participated in the Wuhan Military World Games held last October may have brought the epidemic." President Trump's remarks appear to be in reference to this.

Despite recent verbal exchanges between the U.S. and China over COVID-19, President Trump also emphasized that his relationship with Chinese President Xi Jinping remains "very good."

Earlier, at a White House COVID-19 task force press conference the previous day, President Trump stressed the need to protect Asian Americans, saying, "The spread of the virus is in no way their fault. They are working closely with us to eliminate the virus. We will win together!" When asked by a reporter why he refrains from using the term "Chinese virus" at this event, President Trump replied, "It could be offensive language to them," adding, "People are blaming China, but I will not let that go unchecked."