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.