Recently, a responsible official of the Information Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has lodged stern representations with the head of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) Beijing office over its COVID-19 related fake news that was broadcast on January 26.

The official of the Information Department pointed out that the recent BBC video linked COVID-19 with politics and once again hyped topics of "covering up" the pandemic, the virus' origin and accountability of the outbreak. It also aired a video clip of anti-terrorism drills as news coverage of "violent law enforcement and human rights violations" by China's pandemic prevention authorities. This is fake news with typical ideological bias, which has resulted in a vile impact.

The official of the Information Department stressed that the Chinese side urges the BBC and its Beijing office to take China's stance seriously and take earnest measures to undo the report's vile impact. They should also make a public apology to China over the fake news, abandon its ideological bias, and stop deliberately smearing and attacking China. The BBC should follow work ethics, and carry out China-related news reporting in an objective, balanced and fair manner. China reserves the right to take further measures.