Taiwan medical team at epicenter of virus outbreak

China says it hosted a medical team from Taiwan at the epicenter of new disease outbreak while barring the island's demand to attend a United Nations meeting on the virus.

"No one cares more about the health welfare of Taiwan compatriots than the Chinese central government," said Geng Shuang, a Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson, at a regular press conference in Beijing on Wednesday.

He then detailed an "onsite investigation" by Taiwanese authorities in Wuhan, where the virus was first detected at a seafood market.

But he reaffirmed China's One China policy in relation to Taiwan that would bar the island from participating in an upcoming emergency meeting at the World Health Organization headquarters in Geneva.

China regards Taiwan as its own territory and not entitled to representation in most international bodies.

At China's insistence, Taiwan is neither a member of the World Health Organization or allowed to participate in any of its meetings.

However, large numbers of Taiwan's people travel to and live in China, where 440 people have contracted the virus and nine have been killed by the outbreak that originated in the city of Wuhan.

One case has been confirmed in Taiwan and others in Macao, South Korea, Japan and Thailand.

Taiwan, which was heavily affected by a 2002-2003 SARS outbreak that also originated in China, has enacted strict monitoring, detection and quarantine measures.

Geng also announced a new Special Envoy for Afghanistan.