BEIJING: China opposes any “arbitrary” probe into the origin of coronavirus pandemic that is based on the presumption of its guilt, Vice Foreign Minister Le Yucheng said.
“This is an arbitrary investigation based on the presumption of guilt. That is what we firmly oppose,” Efe news reported on Thursday citing Le as saying.
“We support professional exchanges between scientists. What we oppose, however, is unfounded charges against China. One should not accuse China first and then run so-called international investigations just to make up the evidence.”
He made the comments on Tuesday in an exclusive interview with NBC News aired on Wednesday.
The comments come after US President Donald Trump said his administration was conducting “serious investigations” into Beijing’s handling of the coronavirus outbreak, that was first reported in Wuhan last December, and suggesting he would seek damages for Washington.
Trump has also lashed out at the World Health Organization, calling it “literally a pipe organ for China”.
However, Le said he would not object to scientific investigations into the virus’ origins but questioned why this probe was targeting only China and not other countries “with rapid spread and surge of confirmed and fatal cases”.
“We oppose the politically-driven investigation to stigmatize China.”
He said the virus was a natural disaster and “China is a victim” and sought to assure that the measures adopted by China to contain the outbreak were “open, transparent and responsible”.
“We did not cover up anything, and did not delay any efforts,” he said.

Press Trust of India