The US holds China fully responsible for concealing the virus and unleashing it upon the world, President Donald Trump told a briefing.

"And make no mistake: We hold China fully responsible for concealing the virus and unleashing it upon the world. They could’ve stopped it. They should’ve stopped it. It would’ve been very easy to do at the source when it happened," he noted.

The tensions between Beijing and Washington intensified amid the COVID-19 pandemic: Washington accuses Beijing of concealing information about the virus origin and the extent of infection. Chinese Deputy FM Le Yucheng, in turn, has expressed regret that some politicians use the virus to defame China.