China's Influence(?) 48 Countries Send Letter to WHO Opposing Politicization of COVID-19

WHO Secretary-General Delivers Message Ahead of COVID-19 Origin Phase 2 Investigation Explanation
China Insists on Transparent and Scientific Investigation During Wuhan Phase 1 Inquiry

[Asia Economy Beijing=Special Correspondent Jo Young-shin] China’s state-run Global Times reported on the 16th that 48 countries worldwide have sent a joint letter to the World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General opposing the politicization of the COVID-19 origin investigation. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus is scheduled to explain the second phase of the investigation into the origin of COVID-19 in China to the 194 member countries soon.

The letter reportedly contains the opinions of 48 WHO member countries opposing the politicization of the investigation into the origin of COVID-19 and calling for an end to the politicization of infectious diseases, according to the Global Times. The 48 countries emphasized that the virus is a common enemy of humanity and can only be conquered through global cooperation. The Global Times stated that these 48 countries collectively voiced that political games regarding the origin of COVID-19 must stop and that the issue should not be exploited politically.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The Global Times emphasized that China has shown a scientific attitude and responsibility regarding the origin issue since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. It explained that since last year, experts have been invited twice to Wuhan, China, to conduct origin-tracing investigations. As a result, international experts have sufficiently confirmed the relevance, it added.

The Global Times claimed that some countries, including the United States, are politically exploiting COVID-19 by stigmatizing China as the source of the infectious disease and attaching a dishonorable label, accusing some Western countries of distorting science and truth for their political interests.

Considering that the joint letter from the 48 countries was delivered ahead of the briefing on the second phase of China’s COVID-19 origin investigation, there is analysis that China’s influence played a role.

Meanwhile, on the 15th (local time), WHO Director-General Tedros expressed the opinion that more cooperation from the Chinese government is needed to clarify the origin of COVID-19. He pointed out, “There were issues in the investigation conducted last February.” He said, “It is important to verify what happened inside Chinese laboratories,” adding, “Direct information about the laboratory situation is needed around the time the global pandemic began.”

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The WHO investigation team concluded after the on-site investigation in Wuhan last March that the hypothesis that COVID-19 started from bats and was transmitted to humans through an intermediate host carries weight, while the possibility of a laboratory origin is extremely low. However, the investigation team was criticized for not conducting a sufficient investigation due to restricted access to data by the Chinese government.

Director-General Tedros also left room for all hypotheses regarding the origin of COVID-19 to remain on the table after the investigation.

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