China faces coronavirus backlash: UK joins international demands for inquiry into handling of disease at World Health Organisation conference

• The World Health Organisation holdings assembly amid the coronavirus crisis 
• EU resolution backed by the UK urges an independent inquiry into handling
• The resolution stops short of mentioning China but will increase the pressure 

China is facing mounting pressure over coronavirus as the UK joins international demands for an independent inquiry into the handling of the disease. 

Calls are set to be made for a full probe as the World Health Organisation holds its virtual assembly today and tomorrow. 

The WHO is braced for heavy criticism from the US, with Donald Trump having accused it of a 'China centric' approach to the pandemic and frozen funding. 

Meanwhile, the UK is among the backers of an EU resolution urging an 'impartial, independent and comprehensive evaluation' of the international response to COVID-19.

Although the text does not refer explicitly to China it is seen as an opening shot in a looming battle over the origins of the disease. 

Beijing has been accused of causing deaths by covering up the early stages of the outbreak, and hiding its death toll. 

The WHO is braced for heavy criticism from the US, with Donald Trump having accused it of a 'China centric' approach to the pandemic and frozen funding. Pictured Tedros Adhanom and President Xi of China, who is addressing the assembly, shake hands in January

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The text calls on WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus to initiate 'field missions' to identify the source of the virus and how it crossed the species barrier to reach humans. 

The WHO and most experts believe the virus emerged in a market selling wildlife in Wuhan late last year. 

A Foreign Office spokesman said: 'There will need to be a review into the pandemic, not least so that we can ensure we are better prepared for future global pandemics. The resolution at the World Health Assembly is an important step towards this.' 

President Xi Jinping will give a video speech for the opening ceremony of the World Health Assembly later 

China's foreign ministry said it was premature to immediately launch an investigation into the origins and spread of the coronavirus that has killed more than 300,000 people globally.

Spokesman Zhao Lijian told reporters during a daily briefing that the vast majority of countries in the world believe the pandemic is not yet over. 

The UK is among the backers of an EU resolution urging an 'impartial, independent and comprehensive evaluation' of the international response to COVID-19. Boris Johnson is pictured in Downing Street last week