China stated on Tuesday, January 27, that the possibility of the COVID-19 pandemic originating from a laboratory leak is “extremely unlikely,” despite recent speculation from the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) suggesting otherwise. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning emphasized during a press briefing that the conclusion drawn by a joint team of Chinese and World Health Organization (WHO) experts after visiting relevant laboratories in Wuhan was based on “scientific and authoritative findings.”
“The international community and the scientific community have widely recognized this conclusion,” Mao added. Her remarks came in response to a CIA assessment released over the weekend, which suggested that a lab leak was “more likely” than natural transmission from animals. The CIA’s stance emerged following the confirmation of John Ratcliffe as the agency’s director under former President Donald Trump’s administration.
A CIA spokesperson had stated, “Based on a low confidence level and all available reports, the CIA believes the origin of the COVID-19 pandemic is linked to research, making it more likely than natural origins.” However, the agency has not definitively concluded whether the virus emerged from a laboratory accident or animal transmission.
Mao Ning criticized the U.S. for politicizing the investigation into the pandemic’s origins, urging Washington to cease using the issue as a tool to stigmatize and blame other countries. “The United States should stop politicizing the investigation into the origins of the pandemic and using it as a tool, as well as halt the practice of stigmatizing and blaming other countries,” she said.
She further called on U.S. authorities to “promptly address the legitimate concerns of the international community” and “actively share data on their earliest suspected cases with the WHO.” The ongoing debate over the origins of COVID-19 has fueled tensions between China and the U.S., with both sides presenting conflicting narratives.
As the global community continues to grapple with the pandemic, the search for its origins remains a contentious and politically charged issue, underscoring the need for transparent and collaborative scientific inquiry.
