CHINESE EMBASSY DEMANDS PUBLIC APOLOGY

CHINESE EMBASSY DEMANDS PUBLIC APOLOGY TO CARMEN SALINAS FOR ITS COMMENTS ON CORONAVIRUSES

Actress Carmen Salinas 

 

MEXICO CITY, MX.- The Chinese Embassy in Mexico takes note of the recent interview with actress Carmen Salinas, in which she slandered the Chinese people saying that the coronavirus is a punishment for eating puppies and kittens in China, even using the racist and discriminatory word of "chinito", published El Heraldo de México.

His comment shook us; We found it absurd and offensive. We condemn it and communicate the following:

1. The origin of the new coronavirus has not been identified so far. Mrs. Carmen Salinas' extreme speech reveals a lack of basic knowledge and ignorance. The racist term "Chinese" that appeared in the 19th century was abandoned by history and has been mentioned again in the 21st century in the framework of an open, plural and globalized society.

This is a blatant provocation to the Chinese people and the Chinese residing overseas, and also reflects a lack of values ​​towards humanity. Being the public figure, the unsubstantiated words of Ms. Carmen Salinas confuse the public, slander China and lacerate the friendship between the Chinese and Mexican peoples. We strongly oppose your comments, request that you amend your error and offer a public apology.

2. Where does the origin of the new coronavirus lie? It is a scientific question, which requires deep investigation and scientific arguments. The virus first appeared in Wuhan, Hubei Province of China, but does not necessarily mean that its origin is from this point. International health experts doubted that its origin is from that place and have hypothesized from other places as well. The virus does not respect borders, nor the color of the skin. Both China and the rest of the world, including Mexico, are victims. For this reason, the World Health Organization named it Covid-19, instead of relating it to some region or country.

Lately, certain foreign politicians and media invented and spread the term "Chinese virus" and "Wuhan pneumonia", their comments reflect geographic and racial discrimination, a fact that expresses their political objective of attributing non-compliance in the work of prevention and control others, in addition to having a bad intention to stigmatize China. The Chinese people and all conscientious people in the international community reject these comments.

Therefore, we strongly oppose the politicization of the epidemic, the labeling of the virus and the stigmatization of China. We hope that all the countries of the world take an objective, fair and rational attitude towards the epidemic, and that they adhere to the union instead of the difference, eliminating prejudice with the reason to overcome together the contingency we face.

3. The coronavirus is spreading in different countries and the situation is very worrying. In the era of globalization, all countries are integrated and interdependent. Therefore, the fight against the coronavirus is no longer for a single city or a single country. We must all join efforts and we must resist rumors, prejudices and discrimination.

It should be noted that China's efforts are not only for its people, but also for the rest of the world. China has adopted both strict and comprehensive prevention and control measures to prevent the epidemic spread globally, thereby saving time for the world to act and setting a new standard for response to epidemics. At the same time, fulfilling the idea of ​​a community for the shared future of humanity, China has shared with the WHO and the international community the genetic sequence of the virus, primers and probes for the detection of nucleic acid, in addition to sending material, equipment medical and health personnel to the most affected countries such as Italy, Spain, South Korea and Iran, a fact that shows what a great responsible country must assume.

Leaders from more than 170 countries and heads of more than 40 regional and international organizations sent messages, made phone calls and issued statements to express their sympathy and support for China, and praised its prevention and control measures, as well as intense international cooperation. China will continue to support Mexico and the rest of the world to fight together the new coronavirus, the common enemy of all humanity.