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China Accuses U.S. of COVID-19 Origin in Response to Lab Leak Claims

A new Chinese white paper rejects the Wuhan lab leak theory, alleging the virus may have originated in the United States and calling for an investigation into U.S. origins.

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Desks sit empty inside the Grand Army of the Republic Building as employees continue to work remotely due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic in Detroit, Michigan, U.S., June 8, 2021. REUTERS/Emily Elconin/File Photo

Overview

  • The Chinese State Council Information Office released a white paper suggesting that COVID-19 may have emerged in the United States before the outbreak in China.
  • China's report criticizes the U.S. for politicizing the virus’ origins, accusing Washington of using the lab leak theory to deflect blame for its pandemic response failures.
  • The document highlights a joint WHO-China study that deemed a Wuhan lab leak 'extremely unlikely,' contrasting with recent U.S. claims supporting the lab leak hypothesis.
  • The white paper calls for a comprehensive investigation into the virus’ origins in the U.S., citing purported evidence of earlier cases and laboratory incidents.
  • This development follows the White House’s April 18 update to its COVID-19 website, asserting a lab-related incident in Wuhan as the most likely origin of the pandemic.