COVID-19 is 'world virus': Leading UK businessman

A leading British business leader said COVID-19 disease is a "world virus" that requires an international response to address it and individual countries should not place the blame on any particular nation.

In reference to some US politicians' repeated use of the term, "Chinese Virus" in speeches and tweets in the past few days, Stephen Perry, chairman of The 48 Group Club, a British organization composed of company leaders promoting China-UK trade, said "This is not China's virus, Trump's virus or anyone's.

"It is unfortunate if some wish to criticise others to steer blame away from themselves. This is the world's virus and it is best handled by the world," Perry said. "It is for all to unite to fight it. Don't be distracted. Don't use racist words. Be brave and face this together."

The alleged "Chinese virus" slur, which has angered the Chinese government and its people, prompted growing criticism around the world.

"Some want to score points in this era," Perry said. "But one thing is for sure – all nations are following the Chinese war against the virus. The danger in the world is being countered by leading figures refusing to use this term.

He went on saying, "Friends of China have mounted campaigns of solidarity with their Chinese allies in this battle, and even after a long period of anti-China propaganda, people in the USA are rejecting this game, which has dangerous outcomes."

Critics worry Trump's language could potentially fuel a sense of xenophobia in the country and a narrative of hate against the Chinese community as a whole, but also increase the tension between the two countries.

Perry contended that the deterioration in US-China relations since the outbreak is a "mistaken policy from the USA", which does not help its image, adding, "As people around the world reject the phrase, China's stature in the world grows."

Recalling the formation of the G20 after the 2008 financial crisis, Perry said, "it was a global multi-racial answer, but I do not think national leaders will become part of an anti-Chinese lobby during this COVID-19 crisis. The virus is the enemy of the people of the world and the leaders should unite the world to fight the virus."

The World Health Organization has already warned against using terms linking the novel coronavirus with any ethnicity.

Michael Ryan, executive director of the World Health Organization's Health Emergencies Program, stressed at a WHO press conference that since the beginning of the outbreak, the virus knows no borders and does not care about ethnicity, skin color or how rich people are.

Ryan said the influenza outbreak of 2009 first emerged in North America, but was not called North America flu, "so it's very important that we have the same approach when it comes to other viruses."