Donald Trump speaks about fresh Chinese hacking allegations

US President Donald Trump has unleashed on China for "taking advantage" of the West as he addressed fresh allegations Chinese hackers were trying to steal coronavirus research. "I'm not happy with China. They should've stopped this [the virus] at the source. They could have stopped it right at the source - so now you're telling me they're hacking? - what else is new," President Trump said. "China has been taking advantage of the United States for many, many years - for decades - because we had people at this position, right here where I'm standing - sitting right in that office, the Oval Office - that allowed that to happen." The South China Morning Post reported China was seeking to reopen negotiations with the US to make the bilateral trade deal "more favourable" for them. Mr Trump flatly rejected any chance of renegotiation "even a little bit" stating he was "not happy" with China's actions. "I'm not interested in that. Let's see if they live up to the deal they've already signed," he said. The briefing became tense during questions as the president refused to shy away from hitting back at the press gallery over their lines of questioning. One reporter asked President Trump why he was touting world-leading coronavirus testing figures like a "global race" while "lives were being lost" The president responded this was the case "everywhere in the world" and perhaps the reporter ought to "ask China". Another reporter asked why the administration was being tested when testing wasn't readily available for all members of the public. "If we get tested it's a problem, if we're not tested, it's a problem, so I like the way your question is phrased," the president said. The president ended the briefing suddenly after an exchange between another reporter and her alleged confusion around her delay in asking a question. Image: AP

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