Advertisement

Updated January 6th, 2021 at 19:06 IST

'Not just a visa issue': China on delay in WHO's planned mission to probe COVID-19 origin

China on Jan 6 said that impasse over the long-planned mission by the WHO to investigate the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic is 'not just a visa issue'.

Reported by: Aanchal Nigam
China
| Image:self
Advertisement

China on January 6 said that impasse over the long-planned mission by the World Health Organisation (WHO) to investigate the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic is “not just a visa issue”. As the team of independent experts set by the United Health (UN) health agency was set to visit the Asian country in January to explore the beginning of the outbreak that first emerged in Wuhan, the sensitive mission has been subjected to delays and politics amid fears that Beijing is attempting to whitewash.

Amid the speculations, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying told the reporters that the talks between Beijing and WHO were ongoing over “the specific date and specific arrangement of the expert group’s visit”. Hua clarified that the delays on the visit of experts is “not just a visa issue” but noted that “origin-tracing is incredibly complicated”. 

Further, the Chinese government official reportedly said that in order to ensure the “work of the international expert team in China goes smoothly, we have to carry out necessary procedures and make relevant arrangements.” Hua said that China is doing its best to create “good conditions” for the international team to come to the country. Hua’s remarks came after WHO reportedly said that Beijing was yet to finalise the permission for the team to arrive and expressed ‘disappointment with the news’.

Read - China Reacts To US Support For Taiwan, App Ban

Read - China Criticizes US Order Against Dealing With Chinese Apps

China condemns allegations on COVID-19

From US President Donald Trump calling coronavirus ‘China Virus’ to other world leaders calling for an independent investigation into the origin of coronavirus outbreak this year, China was on the receiving end of the backlash of the international community and has been accused of hiding crucial data related to the pandemic. Trump took his criticism for China as far as saying that the World Health Organisation (WHO) is supporting China and halted funding the UN health agency.

Read - Asian Shares Mostly Lower As Virus, China-US Tensions Weigh

Despite the heat, Chinese authorities, the Wuhan Insitute of Virology (WIV) and Professor Shi Zhengli have angrily rejected all allegations of virus leak from the Wuhan lab. Scientists appointed by WHO were all set to arrive in Wuhan and inquire the origin of the pandemic that has caused more than a million deaths. In an email to the BBC, Wuhan lab scientist had assured that she had communicated with the UN health agency experts twice and added that, “I have personally and clearly expressed that I would welcome them to visit the WIV.”

Read - Fact Check: Was General Electric Sold To China? Who Owns General Electric?

Read - Where Is Jack Ma, China's E-commerce Pioneer?

Advertisement

Published January 6th, 2021 at 19:08 IST

Your Voice. Now Direct.

Send us your views, we’ll publish them. This section is moderated.

Advertisement
Advertisement

Trending Quicks

INDI Seals Seat-sharing Deal in Bihar, RJD to Contest on 26 Seats, Cong 9
8 minutes ago
Bengaluru Man Tragically Dies After Friend Pumps Hot Air Into His Rectum For Fun
11 minutes ago
Sunita Kejriwal urged people to send ‘messages of support’ to Delhi CM
13 minutes ago
Congress Press Conference
14 minutes ago
Kamlesh Awasthi
15 minutes ago
Adani Green Adopts Robotics for Solar Module Maintenance
27 minutes ago
Electric Vehicle
30 minutes ago
Lok Sabha Elections 2024 LIVE
30 minutes ago
A poster of Crew
36 minutes ago
"We never celebrated Holi after the incident (the murder), I felt that today is Holi for us,” Alka Rai, wife of formerBJP MLA Krishnanand Rai said.
38 minutes ago
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Whatsapp logo