In response to the Wuhan pneumonia outbreak, some U.S. diplomats in China were forced to undergo “anal swab” screening upon arrival in China, leaving them feeling humiliated. In response, Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Zhao Lijian said on 25 May that China has never asked U.S. diplomats in China to undergo “anal screening.
The Washington Post, citing diplomatic-related meetings and interviews, reported that some U.S. diplomats in mainland China have complained that they have been required to undergo locally administered “anal swab” tests because of bungled operations by the Chinese authorities. In response, a State Department spokesman said the department is “evaluating all reasonable options” to preserve the “dignity” of U.S. officials in line with the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.
As the news continued to fester, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian responded to media questions at a regular press conference on 25 May, saying that China had never asked U.S. diplomats in China to undergo “anal swab” testing.
The Chinese anal swabbing controversy began when Dr. Li Dong, a physician in the Infection General Department at Beijing‘s Youan Hospital, told Chinese media in January that additional anal swabs would prevent missed diagnoses.
Earlier, Korean media outlet Wowkorea reported that a Korean national who entered China complained to Korean media that he was notified of mandatory anal testing when he checked into a designated quarantine hotel, and was so scared that he complained to the Korean Embassy in China for help that he was finally able to be tested for the virus in the form of a stool sample.
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