Advertisement
“This commitment along with the hundreds of millions generously donated by the American private sector demonstrates strong US leadership in response to the outbreak,” Pompeo said in a statement.
“We encourage the rest of the world to match our commitment. Working together, we can have a profound impact to contain this growing threat,” he said.
Pompeo, who has frequently criticized China on issues from human rights to its overseas infrastructure spending, said the United States would provide assistance either directly or through multilateral organizations.
Related Articles
Advertisement
The aid pledge comes after Beijing criticized the US response to the health crisis, saying that Washington has been spreading “panic” by banning the entry of foreign nationals who traveled to China.
But President Donald Trump on Friday praised China’s response as “very professional” after he spoke by telephone with his counterpart Xi Jinping.
Pompeo said that the United States has donated close to 17.8 tons of medical supplies to China including masks, gowns, gauze, and respirators.
At least 31,000 people in two dozen countries have been infected, with more than 630 killed, since the virus emerged late last year in the Chinese city of Wuhan, likely from a market that sold exotic animals for consumption