US and China Shift Focus: Now, It’s About Covid-19’s Origin

Forget the back-and-forth over trade tariffs between the US and China. Now, both countries are embroiled in a heated debate over the “true” origin of Covid-19.

From Pandemics to Blame

It’s been over five years since Covid-19 disrupted our lives. The conversation has shifted from preventing future pandemics to blaming who or what caused the virus.

China’s Shocking Allegation

The controversy reignited last week when China’s State Council Information Office made a startling claim. According to a new White Paper, Covid-19 didn’t start in a Wuhan wet market. Instead, it allegedly leaked from a US bio-technology lab.

The paper asserts that multiple regions in the US had SARS-CoV-2 positive test results before the Wuhan outbreak, suggesting the US used China as a “scapegoat.”

Trump’s Bold Response

The US hasn’t stayed silent. Donald Trump, in a White House press conference, claimed the virus was spread by a researcher who passed it to his girlfriend. He stated, “It can leak out innocently, stupidly, and incompetently, but half destroy the world.”

Executive Orders and Gains

Trump didn’t stop there. He signed an executive order cutting US funding for “gain-of-function” research in countries like China and Iran. This research alters pathogens to study their effects, often making them more transmissible.

The order was shared on X via the White House’s Rapid Response account, highlighting its focus on preventing lab accidents and biosecurity incidents.

Trump’s Statement on the Order

Trump’s team further stirred the controversy by including Covid-19 in the order, stating it would “protect Americans from lab accidents” and reduce the risk of future pandemics. The order specifically targets funding for research that could lead to another global crisis.

The Bigger Picture

This isn’t the first time the US has accused China of a lab leak. Intelligence officials have long suggested the virus may have come from the Wuhan Institute of Virology, though China denies these claims.

Now, with these fresh allegations, the debate continues to intensify, leaving many questioning the true origin of the virus.