US Ambassador to China Nicholas Burns has said that China needs to be more honest about the origins of Covid-19. This comes after reports that the US Energy Department believes the pandemic likely came from a Chinese laboratory leak, an assessment which Beijing denies. Burns also called for China to take a more active role in the World Health Organisation (WHO).
- The US Energy Department concluded that the pandemic likely came from a Chinese laboratory leak, according to reports.
- China must be more honest about the origins of Covid-19, said US Ambassador to China Nicholas Burns.
- Burns also called for China to take a more active role in the WHO.
- The pandemic is believed to have started in Wuhan in December 2019.
- China denies the laboratory leak theory.
- President Joe Biden's national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, said there were "a variety of views" on the origins of the pandemic.
- China reacted angrily when the US military downed a balloon on Feb 4, saying it was for monitoring weather conditions and had blown off course.
- Burns said it was the obligation of the US to maintain its military strength around Taiwan to deter any "offensive action" by China.
