Since the first few weeks of the pandemic, rumors have continued to circulate that the coronavirus may have escaped from the laboratory in Wuhan, China. Now, the theory is being valued again.President Biden ordered U.S. intelligence services last week To figure it out Whether it is Covid-19 “caused by human contact with infected animals or a laboratory accident”, report it within 90 days. For China, it would be much better to finally allow unfettered international investigators (probably unlikely) to seek answers.

The laboratory leak is just an assumption, based entirely on circumstantial evidence, but it seems to be a reasonable assumption. The South China Seafood Market in Wuhan first discovered Covid-19, which is ideal for the “zoological spread” of the virus across the species barrier-close contact between wild animals and humans.It’s only 12 kilometers away from the city center. Wuhan Institute of Virology, There are a lot of coronaviruses hidden inside; another research institute Wuhan Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Even closer. Laboratory escapes have caused disease outbreaks before.

Determining the truth has nothing to do with assigning responsibilities.this is Understanding is essential If we want to prevent the outbreak of similar diseases in the future, the cause of the disease has already killed at least 3.5 million people.If zoonotic spillover is the cause, then understanding these mechanisms can identify areas that need to be changed in animal handling and interactions with humans, and help design global Early warning system Future risks. If the virus comes from a laboratory and has been modified to some extent, lessons can be learned from the transparency and safety of global biological research.

However, even the strong resources of the US spy agency may not be enough to provide an answer with certainty. In a “post-truth” world, not only Beijing, but many other countries will also reject any claim that the United States has revealed that the coronavirus originated in China as an information war.

Instead, the world needs reliable experts selected by multilateral institutions to conduct comprehensive scientific investigations and have access to all the data, people and locations they need.Despite all the difficulties encountered during the pandemic, the best solution is World Health Organization. Indeed, the laboratory escape hypothesis has largely reappeared due to an uncertainty survey of the World Health Organization, which was hindered by China’s lack of full cooperation.WHO’s March report It is concluded that the transfer from the bat through the intermediate host is “very possible”, while the laboratory event is “Extremely unlikely“.

However, although researchers found Covid-like diseases in some people related to the South China market at the end of 2019, the Sars-Cov-2 virus has never been found in animals-so its source is still unknown.WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that the assessment of possible laboratory leaks has been Not “wide enough”.

Beijing seems more willing to keep the source of the information as a mystery. China urges WHO investigators to maintain the possibility of the virus entering Wuhan in the form of frozen food. The Chinese media praised the idea that it was imported from other parts of the world. Donald Trump insists that he will “make China pay the price for the virus”, but it is difficult to make Beijing more open, even though Biden has dropped the term.

Claiming to support free trade in the face of trade protectionism in the Trump era Vaccine diplomacyHowever, Beijing is trying to portray itself as a responsible global citizen. If it turns out to be the source of Covid, it may be afraid of losing face. In fact, if China turns to transparency and cooperation too late, it will win respect.