The Big Picture:
The dispute between China and the United States over the origins of the coronavirus pandemic revolves around whether it originated from a natural zoonotic spillover or an accidental lab leak in Wuhan. China denies the lab leak theory, emphasizing the WHO's conclusion that a leak is "extremely unlikely," and accuses the US of politicizing the issue. The US has increasingly supported the lab leak theory, straining U.S.-China relations and fueling nationalism and distrust.
What He Is Saying:
China's Foreign Ministry Spokesman Mao Ning says a China-WHO expert team concluded, after field visits to Wuhan labs, that the virus is unlikely to have leaked from the laboratory, and that the result is recognized in the international and scientific communities.
What They Are Saying:
- The CIA said on Saturday that the virus "most likely" leaked from a laboratory in China and not through natural transmission from animals.
- The New York Times recently supported the hypothesis that the coronavirus pandemic may have originated from an accidental laboratory leak in China, rather than from natural transmission at a local market.
Go deeper:
Pentagon ran secret anti-China campaign during pandemic: Report
