China has reiterated that the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV) was not involved in the creation of COVID-19, rejecting allegations that the virus originated from a laboratory leak.
A spokesperson for China’s Foreign Ministry dismissed claims linking the institute to the pandemic, stating that scientific studies have consistently pointed to a natural origin. The statement follows renewed scrutiny from Western governments and intelligence agencies investigating the possibility of a lab-related incident.
Beijing has repeatedly emphasized that the World Health Organization’s (WHO) joint study with Chinese scientists in 2021 found no evidence supporting the lab leak theory. Instead, Chinese officials argue that the virus most likely emerged from wildlife, similar to previous coronaviruses.
The origins of COVID-19 remain a subject of intense debate, with U.S. and international intelligence agencies divided over whether the virus stemmed from natural transmission or a potential lab accident. Calls for further investigation have been met with resistance from China, which has accused some countries of politicizing the pandemic.
As global efforts continue to trace the origins of the virus, tensions persist between China and Western nations over transparency and access to key research data.
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