WASHINGTON – US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Wednesday pressed Chinato allow inspectors into sensitive laboratories, voicing concern abouttheir security amid the global COVID-19 pandemic.
Pompeo has refused to rule out that the deadly virus leaked out of alaboratory in the Chinese metropolis of Wuhan, a scenario strenuouslydenied by Beijing.
“You have to remember — these labs are still open inside of China theselabs that contain complex pathogens that were being studied. It’s not justthe Wuhan Institute of Virology,” Pompeo told reporters.“It’s important that those materials are being handled in a safe and secureway such that there isn’t accidental release,” Pompeo told reporters.
Pompeo cited the example of nuclear facilities, pointing to the rigorousglobal inspections to ensure safety.
He renewed concerns that China has not shared a sample of the initiallydetected virus, known scientifically as SARS-CoV-2.
“We still do not have a sample of the virus, nor has the world had accessto the facilities or other locations where this virus may have originallyoriginated inside of Wuhan,” Pompeo said.
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Chinese authorities initially suppressed news of the deadly virus,including detaining a prominent whistleblower.
Chinese scientists have since said that they suspect that the virus emergedlate last year in a Wuhan meat market that butchered exotic animals.
But questions immediately arose because of the presence nearby of themaximum-security virology lab, with senior US officials bringing into themainstream what was initially an online conspiracy theory.
Critics say President Donald Trump is eager to deflect from blame over hisown handling of the pandemic, which has killed some 45,000 people in theUnited States, more than any other country. – APP/AFP
