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

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

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[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."

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