For the first time since the start of the health crisis, China is officially accused by the European Commission
For several weeks, the accusations against China punctuated the Coronavirus crisis. Several countries, led by the United States, notably criticized Beijing for having concealed information on the pandemic and thus for having caused the death of hundreds of thousands of people.
The anti-Chinese rhetoric has now taken a more concrete turn with the publication of a report from the European Commission which officially denounces the “disinformation campaign” in China but also in Russia.
French daily Le Parisien reported that these two countries “are the main providers of content aimed at misinforming European citizens,” according to Věra Jourová, vice-president of the institution responsible for values and transparency. The EU challenged China the first time – directly: “I’m glad we did, because if we have evidence, we need to report it. […] It’s time to tell the truth, ” said Věra Jourová.
“For the first time, we have clearly seen China becoming one of the main actors in disinformation,” according to the European Commission.
In detail, the institution accuses China and Russia of circulating “dangerous hoaxes” and “misleading medical information with false allegations” on the Coronavirus. In particular, Jourová cites statements such as “it would be pointless to wash your hands” or “the Coronavirus is only dangerous for the elderly”. The European Commission also points to “conspiracy theories” such as the circulation of the virus by 5G antennas, or those accusing an ethnic or religious group of being at the origin of the pandemic.
“One of the main arguments is to say that the virus is not from China,” says the European Commission. The Chinese Embassy in Paris has regularly...
The anti-Chinese rhetoric has now taken a more concrete turn with the publication of a report from the European Commission which officially denounces the “disinformation campaign” in China but also in Russia.
French daily Le Parisien reported that these two countries “are the main providers of content aimed at misinforming European citizens,” according to Věra Jourová, vice-president of the institution responsible for values and transparency. The EU challenged China the first time – directly: “I’m glad we did, because if we have evidence, we need to report it. […] It’s time to tell the truth, ” said Věra Jourová.
“For the first time, we have clearly seen China becoming one of the main actors in disinformation,” according to the European Commission.
In detail, the institution accuses China and Russia of circulating “dangerous hoaxes” and “misleading medical information with false allegations” on the Coronavirus. In particular, Jourová cites statements such as “it would be pointless to wash your hands” or “the Coronavirus is only dangerous for the elderly”. The European Commission also points to “conspiracy theories” such as the circulation of the virus by 5G antennas, or those accusing an ethnic or religious group of being at the origin of the pandemic.
“One of the main arguments is to say that the virus is not from China,” says the European Commission. The Chinese Embassy in Paris has regularly...
