03:19China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Mao Ning hit out at Washington for carrying out what she called 'smear attacks' on Beijing over the origins of COVID-19, during a press briefing in the capital on Thursday.
“For some time, the United States has been determined to politicise, weaponise, and instrumentalise the issue of covid virus traceability," she claimed. "In the absence of any evidence, the US hypes the theory of laboratory leakage and carries out smear attacks on China."
"The international community has seen this very clearly, to poison the atmosphere of global scientific covid origins tracing," the spokesperson continued.
The comments came a day after the US House Committee started its first hearing to investigate COVID-19 origins. In recent weeks, both the US Department of Energy and the FBI have backed suggestions of a Chinese lab leak.
"We once again urge the US side to immediately stop political manipulation of the source issue," Mao Ning added. China has strongly denied the 'lab leak’ claims, while a World Health Organisation report in 2021 concluded it was 'extremely unlikely'.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson also commented on the Dutch government’s move to block the export of microchips to China following US action in 2022, amid media reports of pressure from Washington.
“The bullying action seriously undermines market rules and international economic and trade order, harms not only the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises, but also seriously impacts the stability of the global industrial chain supply chain and the development of the world economy, and will eventually damage one's own interests,” Mao Ning said.
She said that she hoped the Dutch side would "uphold an objective and impartial position and market principles" and work with Beijing on their common interests, adding that China would 'take all measures to safeguard our legitimate rights and interests'.
China: 'US has been determined to weaponise the issue' - MOFA spox condemns COVID 'lab leak' theory as House Committee opens hearing
China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Mao Ning hit out at Washington for carrying out what she called 'smear attacks' on Beijing over the origins of COVID-19, during a press briefing in the capital on Thursday.
“For some time, the United States has been determined to politicise, weaponise, and instrumentalise the issue of covid virus traceability," she claimed. "In the absence of any evidence, the US hypes the theory of laboratory leakage and carries out smear attacks on China."
"The international community has seen this very clearly, to poison the atmosphere of global scientific covid origins tracing," the spokesperson continued.
The comments came a day after the US House Committee started its first hearing to investigate COVID-19 origins. In recent weeks, both the US Department of Energy and the FBI have backed suggestions of a Chinese lab leak.
"We once again urge the US side to immediately stop political manipulation of the source issue," Mao Ning added. China has strongly denied the 'lab leak’ claims, while a World Health Organisation report in 2021 concluded it was 'extremely unlikely'.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson also commented on the Dutch government’s move to block the export of microchips to China following US action in 2022, amid media reports of pressure from Washington.
“The bullying action seriously undermines market rules and international economic and trade order, harms not only the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises, but also seriously impacts the stability of the global industrial chain supply chain and the development of the world economy, and will eventually damage one's own interests,” Mao Ning said.
She said that she hoped the Dutch side would "uphold an objective and impartial position and market principles" and work with Beijing on their common interests, adding that China would 'take all measures to safeguard our legitimate rights and interests'.
China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Mao Ning hit out at Washington for carrying out what she called 'smear attacks' on Beijing over the origins of COVID-19, during a press briefing in the capital on Thursday.
“For some time, the United States has been determined to politicise, weaponise, and instrumentalise the issue of covid virus traceability," she claimed. "In the absence of any evidence, the US hypes the theory of laboratory leakage and carries out smear attacks on China."
"The international community has seen this very clearly, to poison the atmosphere of global scientific covid origins tracing," the spokesperson continued.
The comments came a day after the US House Committee started its first hearing to investigate COVID-19 origins. In recent weeks, both the US Department of Energy and the FBI have backed suggestions of a Chinese lab leak.
"We once again urge the US side to immediately stop political manipulation of the source issue," Mao Ning added. China has strongly denied the 'lab leak’ claims, while a World Health Organisation report in 2021 concluded it was 'extremely unlikely'.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson also commented on the Dutch government’s move to block the export of microchips to China following US action in 2022, amid media reports of pressure from Washington.
“The bullying action seriously undermines market rules and international economic and trade order, harms not only the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises, but also seriously impacts the stability of the global industrial chain supply chain and the development of the world economy, and will eventually damage one's own interests,” Mao Ning said.
She said that she hoped the Dutch side would "uphold an objective and impartial position and market principles" and work with Beijing on their common interests, adding that China would 'take all measures to safeguard our legitimate rights and interests'.