No evidence pandemic coronavirus came from Wuhan lab, China says

Beijing says origin of pathogen a serious matter for science, after US president signals investigation into whether virus came from facility in Chinese city

Allegations part of continued exchange of accusations between the two countries

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China has again rejected suggestions that the coronavirus came from a laboratory in Wuhan, Hubei province. Photo: Xinhua

Catherine Wong,Robert DelaneyandOwen Churchill

Published: 6:00pm, 16 Apr 2020Updated: 12:35am, 17 Apr 2020

China said on Thursday that there was no scientific evidence to suggest that the pandemic coronavirus was made in or leaked from a laboratory.

Foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian delivered the assessment after US President Donald Trump said the United States was investigating whether the virus came from a lab in Wuhan, the central Chinese city where the coronavirus was first detected.

“China believes the origin of the virus is a scientific issue that has to be seriously handled,” Zhao said.

“The World Health Organisation said there is no evidence proving that it is made in a lab. And many renowned medical experts have also said that the claim that the virus leaked from a lab has no scientific basis.

“China will continue to work with other nations and support each other [to contain the pandemic].”

At a White House news conference on Wednesday, Trump was asked about the reports of the virus escaping from the Wuhan lab. He said he said he was aware of them and had discussed an alleged link between a top-level virology lab in Wuhan and the coronavirus outbreak with Chinese President Xi Jinping.