Top Chinese official disowns U.S. military lab coronavirus

Axios ^ | 5 hours ago | Jonathan Swan, Bethany Allen-Ebrahim

[Zhang Fei]

In a rare interview, China's ambassador to the United States, Cui Tiankai, told "Axios on HBO" that he stands by his belief that it's "crazy" to spread rumors about the coronavirus originating from a military laboratory in the United States.

Why it matters: Cui called this exact conspiracy theory "crazy" more than a month ago on CBS' "Face the Nation." But that was before the spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Zhao Lijian, began publicly promoting the conspiracy.

• The fact that Cui distanced himself from his colleague's statements sends an important signal from the top Chinese government official in the U.S.
• Top Trump officials, including the president, have expressed their outrage at Chinese officials for trying to spread the theory that the U.S. military brought the coronavirus to China. The State Department even called in Cui to take him to task.

The big picture: There's not a credible epidemiologist in the world who has shown evidence that the virus originated anywhere but China. Scientists believe the virus emerged from animals sold in a market in Wuhan, where the first cases of the disease were discovered.

Driving the news: In our interview, which aired Sunday, "Axios on HBO" quoted back to the ambassador a statement he made on "Face the Nation" Feb. 9: "There are people who are saying that these virus [sic] are coming from some- some military lab, not of China, maybe in the United States. How can we believe all these crazy things?"

• Cui told "Axios on HBO" he stands by that statement. "That's my position then and that's my position now."
• Cui added that we should leave it to the scientists to describe where the virus originated and said it's "very harmful" for journalists and diplomats to speculate about its origins.

[Zhang Fei]

Meanwhile, the Chinese (along with Russian and Iranian) campaign pushing the virus as an American weapon continues. The Chinese end:

https://www.theepochtimes.com/china-continues-disinformation-campaign-targeting-us-amid-cpp-virus_3279721.html

[fuente]

Dang right he does. Because IF the Chinese really believed it, then they would be on the hook to retaliate just to save face with their own people.... That would be seen as a first unprovked strike by the US and then the game would be on.

[MrEdd]

Xi will probably be shuffling off this mortal coil.
If officials are saying this openly then Xi’s retaliating days are known to be nearing their end.

[proud American in Canada]

Good for the president. I have nothing but respect and admiration for him and his lovely wife and their son Barron
W

[stuck_in_new_orleans]

Hmmmm. Wait to see if anything happens to this guy in the next few days

[grey_whiskers]

I hope ...no, I'm commanded to pray for my enemies.

Lead Xi to repentance by your Mercy, Lord.

Amen.

[mrsmith]

“You say this” but “You say that”
LOL!
China likes in as many ways as they can find.

[MrEdd]

Psalm 109:8 is a prayer.

[Tucker39]

Every time I’ve seen Xi, he has a pained look. Even when forcing a smile there’s a pained component to it. He’s unhappy. He may not know it, but he needs to get right with God. Nothing has helped his emptiness inside. Not even getting himself declared President or whatever, for LIFE! And ESPECIALLY, even persecuting Christians hasn’t made him feel better.

[dfwgator]

What is the Chinese word for “Kremlin Flu”?

[Tucker39]

Klemrin Fru, maybe?

[grey_whiskers]

(angry sigh) yes.

[MacMattico]

Time to defect and go into witness protection...

[granada]

NPR’s news reports offered new evidence for PRC’s narrative that the coronavirus was not originated from China.

>>>>>>

“Remuzzi says he is now hearing information about it from general practitioners. “They remember having seen very strange pneumonia, very severe, particularly in old people in December and even November,” he says. “This means that the virus was circulating, at least in [the northern region of] Lombardy and before we were aware of this outbreak occurring in China.”

He says it was impossible to combat something you didn’t know existed.”

https://www.npr.org/2020/03/19/817974987/every-single-individual-must-stay-home-italy-s-coronavirus-deaths-pass-china-s

[Zhang Fei]

[NPR’s news reports offered new evidence for PRC’s narrative that the coronavirus was not originated from China.]

---

If the bug had originated in Lombardy, you’d think Italy’s currently high daily death tolls would have materialized earlier than the Chinese ones. If the Chinese death tolls are accurate (although I doubt they are), then there are strong reasons for thinking that the bug originated in China, since longtime exposure to cousins of this bug over thousands of years would explain the far lower per capita death numbers. The November Lombardy cases, if proved accurate via tissue sample testing, would suggest that this bug had been circulating in China for months before November, and it was only in December that ventilator availability became a problem there.

Made in Italy using Chinese sweatshop workers has cost Italy hundreds of billions of euros. Perhaps it’s time Italy considered requiring that Made in Italy fashion products be made by actual Italian citizens:

https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2018/04/16/the-chinese-workers-who-assemble-designer-bags-in-tuscany

[Bon mots]

They know that it came from a military lab in China... they need to deflect the blame and if you don't buy it, it's because you're a racist!

[PghBaldy]

I assume the US did not do this, and China is spreading these lies because their citizens are furious at the bad leadership in China. They need an outside enemy, and it is the USA.

[MadMax, the Grinning Reaper]

I suggest that Ambassador Cui change his name, get a new job in some obscure out-of-state restaurant and watch his back. The Red Chinese secret police don’t like people who tell the truth.

[Ymani Cricket]

Curious to know why it is highest in NATO countries + China and not former Soviet/bloc countries. I mean look at the equator countries. It is warm there so I can see a lack of cases or even of reporting or testing. But Russia? It is colder there. Perfect conditions. The Military Olympics in Wuhan in Oct. 2019 had many nations represented. Just food for thought. Probably just a coincidence.