Covid-19: China hits back at WHO, calls 'lab leak' probe a 'lie'
Beijing (China), June 12: Following the World Health Organization's (WHO) strong recommendation for a more thorough investigation into whether the Covid-19 outbreak was caused by a leak from a Chinese laboratory, Beijing has blasted the WHO and called the theory "politically motivated and a lie."
WHO's expert group said in a report released on Friday that "key pieces of data" required to explain how the pandemic started were still missing. The scientists added that the group would "remain open to any and all scientific evidence that becomes available in the future to allow for comprehensive testing of all reasonable hypotheses".
The WHO advisory panel also concluded that the Huanan seafood market in Wuhan, China, played a significant role in the pandemic's amplification and that more investigation into it is needed.
Defending China, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian stated that the accusations of not cooperating in the investigation are false and added that China welcomed a science-based probe but rejected any political manipulation, Sydney Morning Herald reported.
While denying the Wuhan lab leak, the Chinese spokesperson also said that investigation must also be made into various US labs such as Fort Detrick and the University of North Carolina.
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Making another serious allegation against the United States, China stated that the US is developing the coronavirus as a bioweapon. However, China, a country which is already accused of exacerbating the pandemic, has made the allegations against the US without evidence.
"The lab leak theory is totally a lie concocted by anti-China forces for political purposes, which has nothing to do with science," Zhao said at a daily briefing. He further added: "We always supported and participated in science-based global virus tracing, but we firmly opposed any forms of political manipulation."
Zhao also claimed that China has contributed to virus tracing, and shared the most data and research results which "fully reflects China's open, transparent and responsible attitude, as well as its support for the work of the WHO and the advisory group."
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-PTC News
