BEIJING, March 7 (Xinhua) -- As China spares no efforts and makes huge sacrifices to fight the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, some U.S. individuals and media outlets have alleged the virus "originated in China" and demanded an apology from the country.

This kind of absurd argument smears the Chinese people and runs counter to the urgent need of international collaboration in the face of the epidemic.

Such an argument, like a "political virus," is even more dangerous than COVID-19. It reveals nothing but prejudice, arrogance and ignorance.

The epidemic was first reported in China but that does not mean it necessarily originated in China, specialists have explained. The World Health Organization (WHO) has said many times that COVID-19 is a global phenomenon with its source still undetermined.

The name COVID-19 was chosen by the WHO for the purpose of making no connections between the virus and certain places or countries.

Moreover, no matter where the origin is, China and other countries hit by the epidemic are all victims of the virus and are faced with a serious battle against the outbreak. What is the point of blaming the victim and arguing that someone should apologize for it?

However, there are people who ignore the facts, put political interests above public interests and science, spread rumors and incite ideological prejudices, even racial discrimination and xenophobia. What are they up to?

Viruses know no borders. To protect the health and safety of the people across the world, the Chinese people have made huge sacrifices and major contributions.

Since the outbreak, China has been fighting at the forefront against the epidemic. The country has taken the utmost effort to contain the epidemic and shared information and experience with the rest of the world.

As WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said, China's containment of the outbreak has bought time for the rest of the world.

Bruce Aylward, an epidemiologist who recently headed the WHO-China Joint Mission on COVID-19, spelled out the impact of aggressive containment measures adopted by the Chinese government.

He told reporters following his visit to Wuhan, the epicenter of the outbreak and an 11-million-metropolis that has been under lockdown for more than a month, that it is important to recognize the people of Wuhan. "The world is in your debt."

COVID-19 is a virus of humanity, not of any certain country. WHO has published data that over 17,000 cases have been confirmed in 88 countries and regions outside China by Friday, calling for early and aggressive measures to break the chain of transmission worldwide.

As the saying goes, a small leak will sink a great ship. What we need in the face of the epidemic is not stigmatizing a country or attacking a country, but science, rationality and solidarity.

These are the most powerful weapons against our common enemy.

If there is anyone who owes the world an apology, it must be those who spread "political virus" that smears Chinese people's efforts against the epidemic and jeopardizes global solidarity. Enditem

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