CHINA-US: US PRESIDENT BIDEN ASKS US INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY TO INVESTIGATE ORIGINS OF COVID-19

A statement issued by the White House quoted US President Biden as saying on May 26 that he had asked for an additional follow-up to the Intelligence Community's report on the origins of COVID-19, including whether it emerged from human contact with an infected animal or from a laboratory accident. He said "As of today, the U.S. Intelligence Community has “coalesced around two likely scenarios” but has not reached a definitive conclusion on this question. Here is their current position: “while two elements in the IC leans toward the former scenario and one leans more toward the latter – each with low or moderate confidence – the majority of elements do not believe there is sufficient information to assess one to be more likely than the other. I have now asked the Intelligence Community to redouble their efforts to collect and analyze information that could bring us closer to a definitive conclusion and to report back to me in 90 days. As part of that report, I have asked for areas of further inquiry that may be required, including specific questions for China. I have also asked that this effort include work by our National Labs and other agencies of our government to augment the Intelligence Community’s efforts. And I have asked the Intelligence Community to keep Congress fully apprised of its work." He also stated, "The United States will also keep working with like-minded partners around the world to press China to participate in a full, transparent, evidence-based international investigation and to provide access to all relevant data and evidence."





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