China Denounces US Claims on COVID-19 Origins as “Politically Motivated”
Escalating Diplomatic Tensions Over Pandemic Source
China’s National Health Commission (NHC) has issued a strong rebuttal to recent U.S. allegations regarding the origins of COVID-19. The response comes after the White House published an article reiterating claims that the pandemic may have originated from a Wuhan research laboratory.
China’s Categorical Rejection of US Allegations
At a press conference in Beijing, NHC spokesman Mi Feng dismissed the U.S. assertions as “scientifically baseless” and containing “fully fabricated evidence.” Feng characterized the White House article as part of a “smear campaign” designed to politicize what should remain a scientific investigation.
“Turning a scientific question into a geopolitical tool is a tactic rejected by the global scientific community,” Feng stated, referencing WHO reports from 2021 that deemed the laboratory leak hypothesis “extremely unlikely.”
China Counters With Claims of Early US Cases
The Chinese official presented counter-evidence suggesting early COVID-19 presence in the United States, citing a 2023 University of California study that detected SARS-CoV-2 traces in U.S. wastewater samples from November 2019. Feng called for “the next phase of research to focus on the United States,” urging Washington to provide explanations to the international community.
Science vs Politics: The Ongoing Debate
The exchange occurs amid heightened Sino-American tensions, with both nations attempting to shape the narrative around the pandemic’s origins. The White House article referenced declassified 2023 reports speculating about the Wuhan Institute of Virology, though these documents provided no conclusive evidence.
China has responded by calling for broader international investigations, including examination of U.S. facilities like Fort Detrick. The current dispute echoes earlier pandemic-era conflicts between the two nations, with the WHO reporting over 7 million global deaths from COVID-19.
The Challenge of Finding Truth in Geopolitical Tensions
This ongoing confrontation highlights the difficulties of conducting impartial scientific research amid geopolitical rivalries. As both nations promote competing narratives, the search for definitive answers about COVID-19’s origins remains complicated by political considerations.
For global citizens, particularly younger generations in developing nations, the dispute underscores the importance of relying on credible, independent scientific sources amid conflicting claims. The question remains whether international cooperation can ultimately uncover the truth behind the pandemic’s beginnings.
Source: Journal du Niger