Chinese Consulate fires back at Kenney

Alberta premier had been critical of Beijing’s initial handling of outbreak

EDMONTON— The Chinese Consulate-General in Calgary is firing back at Alberta Premier Jason Kenney for his rebuke of China’s handling of the initial outbreak of the novel coronavirus.

In a scathing statement posted on its website Saturday, the consulate accused Kenney of wilfully ignoring the “facts” in an effort to appease U.S. President Donald Trump with antiChina rhetoric. The consulate appears to be responding to a story by The Canadian Press last Thursday about Kenney’s remarks at a virtual roundtable of the Canadian American Business Council.

The premier cautioned that China will soon face a “great reckoning” for downplaying the dangers posed by the novel coronaviru s when it first emerged.

China’s diplomatic outpost in Calgary countered with a warning that Kenney may face his own “reckoning,” suggesting “he will not look smarter” in a comparison between the COVID-19 responses in Alberta and Wuhan.

A spokesperson for the premier said in an email Sunday that the premier’s comments to the council “speak for themselves.” During last week’s roundtable, Kenney accused China of working to suppress early evidence of human-tohuman transmission of the novel coronavirus, including misleading and stonewalling the World Health Organization.

This echoes reported plans by the White House and legislators to penalize China for what it considers to be a coverup. China has strenuously denied such allegations. Trump has indicated he intends to impose retaliatory measures.