US, China Reacts Against Politicization Amid Spread of COVID-19 Wuhan Origin Theory

US Chinese Embassy: "Politicization of COVID-19... Hindering International Community's Pandemic Control Efforts"
Biden Orders Enhanced Investigation of All Scenarios Including Wuhan Lab Origin Theory

Wuhan Institute of Virology, China [Photo by AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Suhwan] As the United States announced its intention to strengthen the investigation into the theory that the COVID-19 virus originated in Wuhan, China, China is opposing this, calling it the "politicization of COVID-19."

On the 26th (local time), the Chinese Embassy in the U.S. issued a statement immediately after U.S. President Joe Biden ordered the strengthening of the COVID-19 origin investigation, saying, "Politicizing the origin theory of COVID-19 hinders the international community's efforts to overcome the current COVID-19 pandemic."

The embassy added, "Some forces are engaging in political public opinion manipulation."

On the same day, President Biden stated in a statement, "In March, I directed the National Security Council to verify various scenarios, including whether the COVID-19 virus originated from animal contact or leaked from a laboratory, and I have recently received a report." He continued, "We will pressure China to participate fully and transparently in the international investigation and allow access to all relevant data and evidence." As claims that COVID-19 leaked from a laboratory in Wuhan, China, are spreading within the U.S., President Biden partially accepted this and thereby pressured China to be transparent in the related investigation.

Earlier, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal (WSJ), before the COVID-19 virus was officially confirmed, in November 2019, three researchers at the Wuhan Virus Laboratory reportedly received hospital treatment for high fever and symptoms similar to COVID-19.

However, China completely denies the virus leak theory from the Wuhan laboratory and is opposing, claiming that the West, including the U.S., is politicizing China as a target to offset negative public opinion caused by their own domestic quarantine failures. Authorities also argue that it is possible the COVID-19 virus originated abroad and was introduced into Wuhan, China.

The Chinese state-run Global Times said on the same day, "If you want to investigate the Wuhan laboratory leak theory, the U.S. should also accept verification of its own domestic virus laboratories."

A senior researcher at the U.S. Council on Foreign Relations pointed out, "The lack of transparency by the Chinese government is the cause that further spread the Wuhan laboratory leak theory."

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