The Chinese foreign ministry denied that US diplomats were asked to take anal swabs for COVID-19.
"To my knowledge ... China has never required US diplomatic staff stationed in China to conduct anal swab tests," Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said.
Earlier it was reported that some Chinese cities use anal swab tests to detect potential COVID-19 infections.
Anal swabs were used to test people that are considered at high-risk of contracting Covid-19. According to state media, anal swabs had been used in Beijing during a small outbreak in January.
China had launched a coronavirus vaccination campaign on 15 December.
