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The Chinese book at the bottom of Sars bioweapons claims that emerged amid coronavirus pandemic
- Material cited in Australian report easily available and written by professor who says his theory was not taken seriously
- Book cites unclassified American research in biological weapons section
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It sounded like the stuff of tabloids but a claim published on the weekend that Chinese military scientists discussed weaponising a deadly strain of coronavirus came from a mainstream Australian media outlet.
The Weekend Australian reported on Saturday that a document written by People’s Liberation Army scientists and senior Chinese public health officials five years before the outbreak of Covid-19 described Sars coronaviruses as heralding a “new era of genetic weapons”.
The report said that in the document the Chinese scientists outlined their ideas that a third world war would be fought with biological weapons.
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The report quoted a digital forensics specialist who had “previously analysed leaked Chinese government documents” as verifying the authenticity of the paper.
It also quoted British and Australian foreign affairs and intelligence officials as saying the document – which was “obtained by the US State Department” – raised major concerns about China’s lack of transparency over the origins of Covid-19.
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Only the “document” cited in the report is far from being leaked, top-secret military material.
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