Coronavirus: China Stands Firm Against Lab Accusations - Merkel Stands Her Ground
- China Fights Back Against BND's Lab Origin Claim - Merkel Refutes Accusation
Wander through the winding streets of Beijing, and the whispers about the coronavirus' origin are everywhere. Sparked by reports of findings by Germany's Federal Intelligence Service (BND), China is on the defensive. These reports suggested that the virus may have been born in a Chinese lab.
"China unequivocally denounces any political wrangling concerning the coronavirus," asserted Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning, standing strong in the heart of China. The People's Republic maintains that scientific inquiries should be handled by scientists, not politicians.
The shockwaves weren't confined to the halls of power; even members of the Parliamentary Control Panel (PKGr), responsible for monitoring intelligence agencies, were taken aback. "There's a fundamental issue here: 80% of scandals, gaffes, and super-secret incidents reach us not via the appropriate committees, but through the press," lamented Left Party politician André Hahn, who served on the PKGr until the end of 2023. "It's seen some improvement recently," he admitted.
Despite the surprise, Hahn informed the German Press Agency that the coronavirus wasn't a priority for the PKGr. "The virus' origins were more likely handled by the Health Committee," he revealed. If the federal government possessed such intelligence, Hahn suggested, they should've shared it with the PKGr, though whether it would've been publicly disclosed is another matter.
Meanwhile, the Chinese Foreign Ministry referred to a World Health Organization (WHO) expert group that investigated relevant laboratories in Wuhan. This group found the leak of the virus from Wuhan to be "highly unlikely," Mao explained.
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WHO: Corona Investigation Still Ongoing
The WHO has been consistent for four years: all hypotheses about the virus Sars-CoV-2 remain open. The 2021 investigation was merely the beginning, not the end. Only recently did the WHO urge China to share data and grant access to better understand the origins of Covid-19.
Reports suggested that the Chancellery had asked scientists to analyze evidence from the BND to support the lab theory, which originates from the central Chinese city of Wuhan's biolab, the Wuhan Institute of Virology. The BND allegedly possesses persuasive evidence for this theory, which has been under evaluation by an expert group in recent months.
Details on the expert group's findings weren't initially forthcoming. The "Süddeutsche Zeitung" and "Die Zeit" reported similar research findings.
According to the lab theory, the Sars-CoV-2 virus emerged from a Chinese biolab where coronavirus research is conducted. The alternative hypothesis suggests that the virus originated naturally, like the one behind the SARS epidemic in 2002/2003.
During a press conference, Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) merely responded, "Regarding intelligence findings, this isn't the stage to discuss them."
Merkel Remains Unshakeable in Dismissal
In the face of these reports, her predecessor, former Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU), categorically dismissed allegations of inaction regarding the virus' origin, relating to her political decisions. A spokesperson for Merkel's office told the Tagesspiegel, "A former Chancellor, Dr. Merkel, flatly denies the allegation raised in your question. The paper had inquired about accusations of concealing relevant information from the public."
Chairman of the Parliamentary Control Panel, Konstantin von Notz, generally praised "the fact that the Federal Intelligence Service is also delving deep into the question of the coronavirus' origin." The Federal Government and intelligence agencies should provide full disclosure in the coming days to the committees designated for this purpose, including the timeline of events and who knew what when.
- Coronavirus
- BND
- China
- Angela Merkel
- Virus
- Wuhan
"Despite Angela Merkel's denial of allegations regarding her inaction about the coronavirus' origin, the BND's investigation into the matter continues. This probe, focusing on the possibility of the virus originating from a lab in Wuhan, China, has been reported to involve analysis of persuasive evidence. The findings of this investigation are yet to be made public."
"The Chinese Foreign Ministry, in response to these reports, has maintained its stance that scientific inquiries into the Covid-19 origins should be handled by scientists, not politicians."
"Meanwhile, the Parliamentary Control Panel (PKGr) in Germany, though not prioritizing the coronavirus' origins, has acknowledged the improvement in the flow of intelligence information in recent times."
