WHO COVID-19 Origin Investigation Controversy... China Urges "No Politicization"

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] The World Health Organization (WHO) report on the origin of COVID-19 is causing controversy. There are criticisms that the research was excessively delayed due to obstruction by the Chinese government, and that access to information and transparency were significantly lacking.

On the 30th (local time), the WHO investigation team released a 120-page report stating that it is highly likely the virus was transmitted from bats to humans through an intermediate animal host, and that the possibility of leakage from a laboratory in Wuhan, China, is very low.

This report was based on research conducted by an investigation team composed of 17 international experts and 17 Chinese experts in Wuhan, China, from January 14 to February 10.

In response, 14 countries including South Korea, the United States, and Japan issued a joint statement on the same day expressing "common concern that the international experts’ research on the origin of COVID-19 was significantly delayed and that there was insufficient access to complete raw data and samples."

They added, "Work should be conducted under conditions that allow for independent and objective recommendations and investigation results." This was an indirect criticism suggesting that the Chinese government may have obstructed the WHO investigation team’s independent inquiry.

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki also pointed out on the same day that while the Biden administration is reviewing the WHO report, there is a lack of access to important data and transparency. Psaki said, "The content of the report does not match the scale of the impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the world," and "It does not help us know and understand more about COVID-19 than we did 6 to 9 months ago."

On the other hand, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement on the same day saying, "We cooperated with WHO in an open, transparent, and responsible manner," and warned that "politicizing this issue will hinder cooperation and destroy quarantine efforts, causing greater losses." They added, "The task of uncovering the origin of COVID-19 is a global mission that should be carried out by more countries and regions."

WHO acknowledged that there were limitations in drawing conclusions about the virus’s origin due to non-cooperation from Chinese authorities. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on the day, "We experienced difficulties accessing raw data during the investigation in Wuhan," and "We hope future collaborative research will include more timely and comprehensive data sharing."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.