Coronavirus: Ted Cruz says San Antonio's ban on racist term 'Chinese virus' is 'nuts'

The resolution denounces terms like the "Chinese virus" or "Kung Fu Virus" as hate crimes

Calling the coronavirus the "Chinese virus" can be investigated as hate speech in the city of San Antonio, Texas.

The San Antonio City Council voted 11-0 Thursday to classify terms like "Chinese virus" and "Kung Fu Virus" as hate speech, and encouraged residents to report "any such antisemitic, discriminatory or racist incidents to the proper authorities for investigation."

The resolution was introduced by the city's mayor, Ron Nirenberg, as a response to increased aggression aimed at Asians and Jewish people in the city, stating "the safety and well-being of all community members, including the Asian and Jewish communities, and in combating hate crimes targeting Asians, Jews and Pacific Islanders."

According to Councilwoman Shirley Gonzales, a local Chinese restaurant had been the site of several racist incidents rooted in coronavirus fears.

"It's been in operation for almost 90 years. They have been the victims of hate speech and hate crimes, with vandalism and that sort of thing on their property," Ms Gonzales said.

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Senator Ted Cruz tweeted his disapproval of the resolution.

"This is NUTS. SA City Council behaving like a lefty college faculty lounge, triggered by Chick-fil-A & the words "Wuhan virus." If they want to investigate someone, start with NYT & CNN who both repeatedly (and rightly) referred to it as 'the Chinese coronavirus,'" Mr Cruz said.

President Donald Trump has been criticised for using the phrase "Wuhan virus," which he argued was not racist.

"It's not racist at all, it comes from China, that's why," Mr Trump said, responding to a journalist asking why he used the term.

Despite his insistence the labelling is simply categorical, Mr Trump and his officials have frequently attempted to paint the US - and the world at large - as victims of China.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has been especially vocal when pushing the blame for the pandemic onto China.

During a virtual G8 summit last month, Mr Pompeo held up the meeting when other delegates refused his demands to call the virus the "Wuhan virus." Later in the summit, Mr Pompeo warned other delegates that China was trying to downplay its role in the pandemic by giving medical supplies to hard-hit countries.

More recently, Mr Pompeo has been appearing on conservative media shows spreading the conspiracy theory that the virus was created in a Chinese laboratory in Wuhan. Mr Pompeo has yet to provide evidence for his claims.

Before joining Mr Trump's administration, Mr Pompeo was the director of the Central Intelligence Agency.