China on postponement of Tokyo Olympics

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

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

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

Tokyo Games, which h been scheduled to start on 24 July, will w be pushed into 2021 on dates to be determined.

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

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

Also on Wednesday, Geng said visitors would t be permitted to see Australian acemic 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 espion in 2019 sparked concern over his treatment, and Australia has consistently said 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 cases in accordance with law in any way," Geng said.