[Washington = Toshinori Asai, Beijing = Hiroki Ishii]Concerning the origin of the new coronavirus in the United States, there have been a series of reports and remarks by senior government officials that it is highly likely that it leaked from a virus research institute in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China. The Biden administration has explained that no final conclusion has been reached, and views within the government are divided, but domestic interest in the origin of the corona is growing once more.
The Wall Street Journal reported on February 26 that the U.S. Department of Energy, which is investigating the origin of the coronavirus, concluded that it “most likely leaked from the Wuhan Institute of Virology.”
The Department of Energy determined that an accident in the lab likely caused the release of the coronavirus, according to the report, citing a classified report. On the other hand, there are several organizations that support the theory that the virus spread to humans via animals in the natural world, and there are differences within the government, he said.
On the 28th, FBI Director Wray said in an interview with Fox News, “The FBI believes the origin of the pandemic was likely an accidental accident in a laboratory in Wuhan.” We are evaluating it,” he said. “It looks like the Chinese government is trying to sabotage the U.S. investigation,” he said.
NSC “There is no unified view as a government”
Kirby, the strategic public relations coordinator for the US National Security Council (NSC), said at a press conference that the US government has not come up with a unified view. However, as relations between the United States and China are strained due to issues such as the reconnaissance balloon that invaded the skies of the U.S. mainland, there is a risk that hard-line arguments once morest China will intensify, especially among the opposition Republican Party.
On the other hand, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China