China accuses British politicians of ‘slander’ after ‘reckoning’ with Beijing warnings

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China has lashed out at British politicians after ministers and senior Downing Street officials warned of a ‘reckoning’ with China over its handling of the coronavirus outbreak.

Beijing today called such warnings ‘slanders’, ‘attacks’ and ways for leaders to ‘dodge their responsibilities’ during the global crisis, reported Chinese state media.

A spokesperson claimed that Western politicians should feel ‘guilty’ for spreading such allegations.

The news comes as latest statistics reveal that the true death toll of the coronavirus outbreak in the UK could be 24 per cent higher than officials figures show due to people died outside of hospitals.

Hua Chunying (pictured) from China’s Foreign Ministry today criticised American and British politicians for suggesting that Beijing covered up the true scale of its coronavirus outbreak

Hua said: '[We] urge certain people to abandon political bias and prejudice and act like the Chinese government and the Communist Party of China...' A worker in a protective outfit is pictured checking the temperature of an elderly woman outside a bank in Wuhan on Tuesday

Hua said: ‘[We] urge certain people to abandon political bias and prejudice and act like the Chinese government and the Communist Party of China…’ A worker in a protective outfit is pictured checking the temperature of an elderly woman outside a bank in Wuhan on Tuesday

True number of UK coronavirus deaths could be 24% MORE than official figures

The true death toll of the coronavirus outbreak in the UK could be 24 per cent higher than NHS figures show, according to statistics released today.

Patients who had COVID-19 mentioned on their death certificates numbered 210 in England and Wales up to March 20, the Office for National Statistics revealed.

This was 24 per cent higher than the 170 deaths recorded by NHS England and Public Health Wales during the same time frame.

If the ratio has stayed true since that time, the true current number of fatalities could be around 1,739 instead of the official 1,408.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has launched a new data series adding in the numbers of people who have died with or after having COVID-19 in the community, including those who died in care homes or their own houses. 

Hua Chunying, the spokesperson of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was responding to recent comments made by American and British leaders when she voiced the criticism, reported Beijing’s state-run newspaper Global Times.

She condemned UK officials for suggesting that China gave false information about the epidemic there. 

She also blasted US politicians for alleging that Beijing’s cover-up led to an escalation of the crisis.

Hua said: ‘[We] urge certain people to abandon political bias and prejudice and act like the Chinese government and the Communist Party of China, which prioritise the lives and safety of its people.’ 

Hua did not name any specific politicians. 

The Mail on Sunday revealed over the weekend that ministers and officials were furious about China’s campaign of misinformation, attempts to exploit the pandemic for economic gain and animal rights record.

There are even Cabinet calls to reverse the decision to let Huawei build large parts of the new 5G telecoms network. 

The UK's coronavirus death toll has risen to 1,408, with more than 22,100 people infected. A man is pictured walking through a deserted Trafalgar Square in London on March 30

The UK’s coronavirus death toll has risen to 1,408, with more than 22,100 people infected. A man is pictured walking through a deserted Trafalgar Square in London on March 30

Michael Gove also suggested that China was to blame for the government’s slow response and the lack of mass testing for coronavirus in the UK. 

Chinese secrecy slowed the UK’s response to the coronavirus crisis, Gove swiped on Sunday.

The Cabinet minister said although the first case was identified before Christmas, the communist state had not been ‘clear about the scale, the nature, the infectiousness’.

Ministers and senior Downing Street officials has warned there will be a 'reckoning' with China over its handling of the coronavirus outbreak. Pictured, people wearing face masks arrive at a Wuhan train station on the first day of the resumption of inbound train services on March 28

Ministers and senior Downing Street officials has warned there will be a ‘reckoning’ with China over its handling of the coronavirus outbreak. Pictured, people wearing face masks arrive at a Wuhan train station on the first day of the resumption of inbound train services on March 28

Michael Gove swiped that China had not been 'clear about the scale, the nature, the infectiousness' of coronavirus

Michael Gove swiped that China had not been ‘clear about the scale, the nature, the infectiousness’ of coronavirus

The dig came amid mounting criticism of the UK government’s approach, including delays in ramping up testing.   

Told on the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show that ministers had known about the coronavirus threat since before Christmas, Mr Gove said: ‘We have been increasing the number of tests over the last month. 

‘It was the case that the first case of coronavirus was established in December last year.

‘But it was also the case that some of the reporting from China was not clear about the scale, the nature, the infectiousness of this.’

Mr Gove said the government had ‘always followed the scientific advice’, pointing out it had published much of the information it been given by experts. 

The UK’s death toll has risen to 1,408, with more than 22,100 people infected with COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus. 

Boris Johnson (pictured taking a meeting by video conference yesterday) now faces Cabinet calls to reverse his decision to let controversial Chinese firm Huawei build large parts of Britain’s new 5G telecoms network

Boris Johnson (pictured taking a meeting by video conference yesterday) now faces Cabinet calls to reverse his decision to let controversial Chinese firm Huawei build large parts of Britain’s new 5G telecoms network

One senior Government source said: ‘Of course, the only priority now is to deal with the crisis, but everybody knows that there has to be a reckoning when all this is over.’

Writing for The Mail on Sunday, former Tory Party leader Iain Duncan Smith said: ‘For too long, nations have lamely kow-towed to China in the desperate hope of winning trade deals. But once we get clear of this terrible pandemic, it is imperative that we all rethink that relationship and put it on a much more balanced and honest basis.’  

Being asked about UK politicians criticism of China, Dominic Raab said the UK would need to team up with as many countries as possible to tackle the pandemic.

Raab, pictured at the government's daily briefing on Monday, claimed that the UK had 'good cooperation' with China, but called for a 'lessons learnt' inquiry into the crisis when it is over

Raab, pictured at the government’s daily briefing on Monday, claimed that the UK had ‘good cooperation’ with China, but called for a ‘lessons learnt’ inquiry into the crisis when it is over

Leading the government’s daily briefing yesterday, the Foreign Secretary said: ‘At home here, in terms of tackling this coronavirus crisis, we need to come together as a team. 

‘Internationally, we need to bring as many countries together [as possible] if are going to collaborate effectively in tackling this crisis and stopping further waves.

Raab also claimed that the UK had ‘good cooperation’ with China, but called for a ‘lessons learnt’ inquiry into the crisis when it is over.

He said: ‘We had good cooperation with the Chinese government in terms of repatriating UK nationals from Wuhan. 

‘But obviously, after the crisis has abated, I think the time will be right to conduct the kind of lessons learnt and that I am sure the World Health Organization will be at the full front of that.’