Recently, some Canadian media have taken the COVID-19 pandemic as an opportunity to smear and attack China's political system, style of diplomacy, and anti-pandemic response. The Chinese side expresses strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition to this.

More and more evidence or research suggests that the pandemic was likely to have been caused by separate outbreaks in multiple places in the world in the latter half of 2019, and the timeline has been constantly dialed forward. Faced with the sudden onslaught of an unknown virus, the Chinese people have stay united, and secured major strategic gains in the fight against COVID-19 under the leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC). In an open, transparent, and responsible attitude, the Chinese government was the first to release information about the pandemic, proactively share its containment and treatment measures, promote research and development of vaccines and global anti-pandemic cooperation, and do all it can to support and assist countries in need. There's a clear timeline of China's effort to fight COVID-19, and China's achievements in the fight against COVID-19 are open for all to see. Accusations of "China covering up the epidemic" are simply groundless.

Measures taken by the Chinese government have protected the safety and health not only of people in China but also others in the world. Statistics have shown that China has provided anti-pandemic assistance to over 150 countries and 10 international organizations, sent 36 medical teams to 34 countries in need, and provided countries around the world with more than 220 billion masks, 2.25 billion protective suits, and 1.02 billion testing kits.

It is the right of every sovereign state to choose its own development path. China's development path conforms to reality and the requirements of the times. China has never exported its development model or engaged in ideological confrontation. The CPC's leadership is the defining feature of socialism with Chinese characteristics. It is under the CPC's leadership that the Chinese people have gained independence, freedom, and liberation, ushering in great achievements one after another in national development. According to surveys conducted by international authoritative institutions, the Chinese people's satisfaction and trust toward the CPC-led Chinese government's ranks the top among all governments across the world.

China's diplomacy is rooted in the 5,000-year Chinese civilization and follows the proud tradition of independence and self-perfection fostered since the founding of the People's Republic of China. We pursue the path of peaceful development and an independent foreign policy of peace. We advocate international law and basic norms of international relations in the conduct of state-to-state exchanges. We uphold equity, justice, and other shared values of humanity. China's diplomacy has acquired a distinct Chinese feature, style and vision. It has always been free from all cowardice or obsequiousness and firmly determined to defend national interests and dignity. We accord friends with hospitality and partners with cooperation. But we also have to stand out on the ground when dealing with those who are not so friendly.

Virus respects no borders and humanity is a community with a shared future. To defeat the coronavirus is the shared responsibility of the international community.Under the current situation, solidarity and cooperation is the most powerful weapon to defeat the virus. Smearing and pointing fingers at China will not help fight against the pandemic. We urge relevant media to respect the fact and stop irresponsible reports and attacking and smearing China.