US Intelligence Agencies Again Unable to Conclude COVID Origin Investigation... Biden Strongly Criticizes China

[Asia Economy New York=Correspondent Baek Jong-min] U.S. intelligence agencies have failed to reach a conclusion on the origin of COVID-19, prompting President Joe Biden to express strong dissatisfaction and vow to continue pressuring China.

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

In a statement on the 27th (local time), President Biden criticized China for possessing decisive information about the origin of COVID-19 but blocking international investigation teams from accessing this information from the beginning.

In May, U.S. intelligence agencies assessed the origin of COVID-19 with two agencies supporting the animal origin theory and one agency supporting the lab leak theory. Despite President Biden ordering an additional 90-day investigation, no conclusion has been reached.

President Biden said, "China has so far refused demands for transparency and has not provided information," adding, "The United States will continue to work with like-minded global partners to pressure China to fully share information and cooperate with the World Health Organization (WHO)'s second-phase assessment."

He continued, "We will pressure China to comply with scientific norms and standards," and stated, "We must have a complete and transparent explanation of this global tragedy. Anything less is unacceptable."

CNN reported that U.S. intelligence agencies remain divided over which theory?natural origin or lab leak?is more accurate.

Four intelligence agencies concluded with low confidence that the coronavirus likely transmitted from animals to humans. However, one agency judged with moderate confidence that the first human infection was linked to a lab.

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