China has firmly rejected allegations that its Wuhan bio-lab engaged in “gain-of-function studies” related to the coronavirus, which have been linked to the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic. In response to growing claims, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun emphasized during a media briefing that the Wuhan Institute of Virology has never conducted such studies on the virus.
“China has made it clear multiple times that the Wuhan Institute of Virology has never been involved in gain-of-function research on the coronavirus,” Guo stated.
Gain-of-function research involves altering organisms genetically to enhance the biological functions of their gene products, which can increase their infectiousness or virulence. Guo also rejected the theory that the lab designed, created, or accidentally leaked COVID-19, and reiterated China’s opposition to political manipulation regarding the virus’s origins.
Recent reports from the United States claimed that the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) used taxpayer money to fund gain-of-function research at the Wuhan lab. Former President Donald Trump had previously criticized and halted USAID’s funding, stating it did not align with American strategic interests.
The Wuhan bio-lab has been under intense scrutiny, particularly during the Trump administration. Guo suggested that the U.S. should look inward and take responsibility, rather than point fingers at others.
He also referred to the joint investigation conducted by the World Health Organization (WHO) and China, which concluded that it was “extremely unlikely” the pandemic resulted from a lab leak, a finding based on scientific evidence and expert assessments.
