China has hit back at allegations that goods made in China are contaminated with the coronavirus that causes Covid-19.

Don't use China made medical supplies if they're toxic

The Chinese Foreign Ministry's spokesperson Geng Shuang said at a routine press conference on Friday, March 20, that for those who label made in China products as "contaminated with virus", they had "better not use made in China masks, protective suits and ventilators".

Geng was responding to a question that asked about a claim by a "certain western scholar" that the products from China carry the coronavirus.

He added that in the "global fight" against Covid-19, everyone needs to "respect facts, respect science, respect others, and above all, respect oneself".

The Chinese were likely referring to its ability to manufacture the masks that the U.S. currently needs -- American frontline health workers are running out of supplies as they tackle the virus.

While there was speculation in the U.S. in late February on whether the virus can spread from China through items shipped from the country, such doubts were quickly laid to rest by American experts cited in media reports.

China informed the U.S. quickly of the epidemic

In response to another question on the allegations that China had not shared information on the epidemic sooner than it did, in turn causing the virus to spread all over the world, Geng reiterated the Chinese government's stance that it had already informed the U.S. about the outbreak on Jan. 3.

He said that the U.S. was notified of epidemic developments and control measures on a "regular basis".

Geng added that the heads of the Chinese and American disease control centres communicated on Jan. 4 on "information sharing and technical cooperation".

Trump's shift in rhetoric

Tensions between the two major powers have ratcheted lately with China expelling American journalists from the country, and putting forth the theory that the virus had originated in the U.S.

A war of words ensued when U.S. President Donald Trump retaliated, calling Covid-19 the “Chinese virus”, and blaming China for the pandemic.

As the spread of the virus slowed in China, and the number of cases spiked in the U.S., Trump shifted his narrative on the pandemic last week, accusing China of causing the global spread of the virus to get out of hand.

He had previously refused to point fingers, saying the virus was no one's fault.

While reported local cases in China are down close to zero, more than 33,000 cases have been reported nationwide in the U.S.

Trump's shift in his take on the pandemic came as he was widely criticised for mishandling the pandemic.

Trump removed key position in Beijing for disease outbreak

A Reuters report, however, revealed that back in July 2019, the Trump administration had removed a key public health expert situated in Beijing meant to help detect disease outbreaks in China.

The elimination of the American disease expert, Linda Quick, took place amid the ongoing trade dispute between the U.S. and China.

If left in her position, she could have gotten word of the outbreak out early, experts said.

Top image adapted via China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs