China on postponement of Tokyo Olympics

China on Wednesday said it "respected" the recent decision to postpone the Tokyo Olympics.

Geng Shuang, spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said it reflected a "responsible attitude of the International Olympic Committee (and) Japanese Government (...) towards athletes, Olympic participants, and the health and safety of all mankind."

On Wednesday, after weeks of hedging, the International Olympic Committee took the unprecedented step of postponing the world's biggest sporting event.

The Tokyo Games, which had been scheduled to start on 24 July, will now be pushed into 2021 on dates to be determined.

For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks.

For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia and death.

Also on Wednesday, Geng said visitors would not be permitted to see Australian academic Yang Hengjun, who has been detained in China for over a year.

Yang, a former Chinese diplomat and state security official, became an Australian citizen in 2002 and began agitating for democratic reforms.

His arrest over allegations of espionage in 2019 sparked concern over his treatment, and Australia has consistently said the accusations are groundless. He is due to be charged or released soon.

"I would like to urge Australia to respect China's judicial sovereignty and stop interfering in China's handling of the cases in accordance with the law in any way," Geng said.