China Condemns U.S. Move
The Claim
China warns the United States against 'politicizing' WHO virus probe into the origins of the coronavirus outbreak.
News posted on
Emerging story
News circulating online claims that China is warned the United States against politicizing the WHO virus probe into the origins of the coronavirus outbreak.
The news started circulating after the World Health Organization team started an investigation about the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic in Wuhan after Washington requested a "robust and clear" investigation.
Misbar’s Analysis
Misbar found the circulated news to be misleading.
According to AFP, Zhao Lijian revealed that the US should "respect facts and science” and “respect the hard work" of the WHO experts, and Beijing said that they must be allowed to work "free from political interference". Zhao Lijian’s statement condemned politicizing the WHO team’s mission. AFP however, wasn’t clear on how ‘China warned the US’.
According to a press release published by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Zhao Lijian told reporters that China welcomed the team sent by WHO to work towards finding the source of the coronavirus. He assured his country’s support to their mission and stressed that “China will continue close cooperation with WHO and international experts''.
Origin-tracing is an ongoing process that may involve multiple places where the epidemic broke out. It is also a complex scientific matter that requires international research and cooperation by scientists from across the world. pic.twitter.com/SYG7ZbczsW
— Spokesperson发言人办公室 (@MFA_China) January 28, 2021
WHO experts will start cooperation on origin-tracing research in China from Jan. 29, including visits, discussions and other field work with the aim to prevent future risks and protect the life and health of people. pic.twitter.com/rRv5SUrd2q
— Spokesperson发言人办公室 (@MFA_China) January 28, 2021
