CHINA has sparked fury after its state media mocked the UK as the “sick man of Euope” over the new mutant Covid strain.
The Communist regime blamed Britain over the new variant despite their own failures being suspected to have led to the coronavirus pandemic that has killed 1.7million worldwide.
Defence select committee chairman Tobias Ellwood MP blasted the latest goad from China – and said the Communist state needs to show some “humility”.
It comes as China also announced it is banned flights from the UK, becoming the latest country to pull up the drawbridge amid fears over the virus.
China’s leading Global Times newspaper – which is considered the unfiltered mouthpiece of the Communist Party – published a string of fiery articles taking aim at the UK.
The state-run publication also produced a cartoon showing Covid-riddled UK planes grounded, while British private jets carrying the bug continue to take off.
“‘Brexit’ may finally come, but not the way the UK had hoped for. Now, it is being cut from the EU with a new identity – ‘sick man of Europe’,” the newspaper wrote.
The article taunted the UK is becoming an “isolated island” with the mutant strain pushing “the country’s international prestige to its lowest level since the British Empire”.
Another sketch showed a sickly looking Big Ben as the paper goaded, “the UK may be seeking fabulous dreams, but has to confront harsh realities”.
Shockingly, the article even blamed the mutant strain on the government’s efforts to control the virus – describing UK policy as an “experiment on its own people’s health and lives”.
Meanwhile, in another piece it claimed “The UK has been a major source of imported Covid-19 cases in China”.
British scientists managed to sound the alarm over the new mutant strain which is feared to be 70 per cent more infectious.
And in the aftermath many nations have closed their borders to Brits as millions have been placed in the Tier 4 lockdowns for Christmas.
Mr Ellwood told the Sun Online: “China has yet to apologise to the world for unleashing a virus that’s caused such global harm.
“They even tried to hide the original outbreak. Yet here they are criticising us for openly sharing our knowledge about mutations of Covid.
“China gave Covid to the world. It should show more humility as world handles the devastating consequences.”
The Global Times wrote: “The UK may be seeking fabulous dreams, but has to confront harsh realities.
“Its national condition can hardly support its imperialistic mentality and ambitions. “
And in another article, it wrote: “The UK has paid a heavy price for its non-systematic anti-virus fight”.
Britain and China’s relationship has been rocky in 2020 as Beijing continues to take a increasingly aggressive stance to the West.
‘WOLF WARRIORS’
Beijing has been accused of have stepping up “wolf warrior” diplomacy – best seen in its recent row with Australia over trade and human rights.
Rows have flared up over China’s alleged genocide of the Uighur people, its involvement in 5G, territory disputes in the South China Sea, and election interference along with espionage.
China has become increasingly bullish amid ongoing allegations over its failures to contain the devastating virus which originated in Wuhan.
The Communist regime has been accused of bungling its response, failing to share information, and actively attempting to cover up the outbreak.
Questionable studies emerging in China have tried to bat away blame, claiming the coronavirus may have originated in India, Bangladesh or even Italy.
It comes as World Health Organisation officials are due to visit Wuhan in January to investigate the origins of Covid-19.
The first known case of Covid-19 was detected in Wuhan last December.
Chinese Communist Party officials notified WHO on New Year’s Eve, but then are accused of downplaying the seriousness of the outbreak.
Damning leaked documents unveiled this week showed that China appears to have lied about the virus to “protect” its image.
The explosive secret data, from China’s own health chiefs, appears to expose a catalogue of cover-ups and blunders.
CNN reported it had been handed a treasure trove of information, contained in a 117-page report marked “internal document, please keep confidential”.
China now claims to have mostly returned to normal since the pandemic, with scenes of packed nightclubs, theme parks and sports games now common again.
Much of the world however continues to suffer, with Britain becoming a new focus point amid the emerging new mutant virus.
More than 2.1million people have been infected in the UK, with 69,051 deaths, while China has only admitted to 86,899 cases and 4,634 deaths.
Questions have been asked about whether Beijing has been honest about its figures, including by US President Donald Trump – who has branded the bug the “China Virus”.
Millions in the UK are now facing Christmas in Tier 4 as the new strain completely bulldozed plans for five days of easing over the festive season.
Health secretary Matt Hancock also announced yesterday even more areas will be plunged into the tough new measures from Boxing Day.
Mr Hancock said: “We simply cannot have the kind of Christmas that we all yearn for.
“We have learnt that when it becomes a matter of when, it is better to act sooner.”
