OREANDA-NEWS. The United States must understand that their real enemy is not China, but the coronavirus. So commented on the words of US President Donald trump about the belated actions of China to curb the spread of the virus and possible claims against Beijing, the official representative of the Chinese Foreign Ministry Geng Shuang.

"Coronavirus pneumonia is a national disaster. China, like the United States, is its victim. All victims must be united and work together to defeat the enemy. The United States should understand that the enemy is the virus, not China", the diplomat said.

Earlier on Wednesday, U.S. President Donald Trump said in an interview with the U.S. news agency that Washington has many options for various actions against Beijing for allegedly delaying the Chinese side's spread of coronavirus infection. 

The outbreak caused by the new coronavirus disease was recorded at the end of 2019 in Central China; on March 11, the World Health Organization recognized it as a pandemic.