Australia decries US exploitation of inquiry to promote Wuhan lab conspiracy

Australian officials say the government’s push for an inquiry into the origins of the new coronavirus outbreak should not be exploited by the United States amid a row with China, which has been accused by Washington of covering up initial data on the deadly viral pandemic and the coronavirus-leak at a Chinese laboratory.

Canberra called last month for an independent inquiry into the origins of the coronavirus, which apparently erupted in the Chinese city of Wuhan in December last year before growing into a global pandemic, and said the plea was “reasonable” and not targeted at any specific country.

The inquiry was launched at a time when US President Donald Trump claimed he had seen evidence linking the flu-like pathogen to a lab in Wuhan and threatened new trade tariffs on China. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo also said there was “enormous evidence" backing the coronavirus-leak scenario.

The World Health Organization, senior US scientists and even the US intelligence community have rejected the claim despite pressure from the White House.

The Chinese foreign ministry has censured the calls for an inquiry as "political manipulation" and said Australia should "give up its ideological prejudices.”

Canberra — caught between a diplomatic row between the US and China — is both a major trading partner to Beijing and a military ally of Washington.

Sources close to the Australian government said Washington's attack on China has given Beijing room to argue that Australia's request for an independent inquiry is part of a US-led agenda to blame it for the coronavirus outbreak.

On Friday, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison reiterated his conviction that he has seen no evidence to support the theory the virus came from a medical lab, and that the most likely source was a wildlife market in Wuhan.

He also said the goal of the inquiry was to know how to prevent another outbreak.

"It's not directed at anyone, we just want to know what happened so it doesn't happen again," Morrison said, when asked whether the US focus on the Wuhan lab theory was counterproductive.

"It's a pretty honest question, with an honest intent and an honest motive. And I'm seeing more and more support for that position," he added, referring to Australia's goals.

The Australian premier wrote to G20 leaders this week to rally up support for an independent inquiry into the matter. The European Union is to raise the issue at the World Health Assembly in Geneva this month.

Australia has expressed optimism about China’s cooperation if there is wide international support for the independent investigation.

MG