At a regular press briefing on Tuesday, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Guo Jiakun called on the United States to cease politicizing the origins of COVID-19. Responding to questions about certain U.S. websites reigniting the “lab leak” theory without credible evidence, Guo stated that these actions amount to baseless accusations and political manipulation targeting China.
“Tracing the origins of the virus is a serious scientific matter,” Guo emphasized. “China has always maintained a scientific, open, and transparent approach, actively supporting and participating in global efforts to trace the origins of COVID-19.”
He urged the U.S. to stop politicizing, instrumentalizing, and weaponizing the origins-tracing issue. Guo called on Washington to cease smearing other countries and shifting blame, and to address lingering doubts about its own pandemic-related activities.
Reiterating China’s position, Guo noted that since the pandemic began, multiple reports have suggested early signs of COVID-19 in various countries, including the U.S. He questioned the unexplained outbreak of vaping-related illnesses in the U.S. in the fall of 2019 and ongoing suspicions surrounding the Fort Detrick laboratory, which remain unaddressed.
“The international community deserves clear answers from the U.S.,” Guo concluded. “We hope the U.S. will take a responsible stance and provide a satisfactory explanation to the global public.”
