China's State Council Information Office released a white paper titled "COVID-19 Prevention, Control and Origins Tracing: China's Actions and Stance" on Wednesday, outlining the country\u2019s pandemic response and rebutting international allegations. The National Health Commission clarified the document\u2019s intent, emphasizing China\u2019s commitment to transparency and scientific collaboration.
White Paper Context and Key Sections
The 14,000-character document highlights China\u2019s pandemic achievements, including early virus origins research with the World Health Organization (WHO), and critiques the U.S. response. Citing alleged U.S. efforts to \u201cshift blame,\u201d the report accuses Washington of undermining global cooperation while hoarding medical supplies. It also references a U.S. court ruling demanding $24.49 billion in COVID-related compensation from China as \u201cpolitically motivated.\u201d
Virus Origins: A Call for U.S. Investigations
China urged further origins research to focus on the U.S., citing studies suggesting COVID-19 circulated there as early as December 2019. Data from the U.S. CDC and National Institutes of Health indicated antibody presence in blood samples collected before America\u2019s first official case. The white paper also raises concerns about U.S. lab incidents involving coronaviruses between 2006 and 2013.
U.S. Pandemic Response Under Scrutiny
China criticized the U.S. for its \u201cdelayed and ineffective\u201d handling of COVID-19, noting a 2.7-year drop in American life expectancy from 2019 to 2021. By contrast, China\u2019s life expectancy rose steadily during the same period. The report highlights the U.S. CDC\u2019s suppression of pandemic data in 2020 and uneven healthcare access for vulnerable groups.
China\u2019s Role in Global Health Governance
The white paper underscores China\u2019s contributions, including sharing genome sequences, supplying 430 billion masks globally, and sending 38 medical teams abroad. It contrasts this with the U.S. withdrawal from WHO funding and alleged vaccine nationalism. China reaffirmed support for WHO-led initiatives, advocating stronger international health regulations.
