China responds to US report endorsing lab leak theory, accuses US of ‘smearing China’

China accused nan U.S. of attempting to smear nan state aft a Sunday study from nan U.S. Department of Energy recovered that COVID-19 astir apt leaked from a lab.

Reporters pressed Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning astir nan study during a Monday briefing. Mao dismissed nan report, however, citing nan much-criticized associated WHO-China investigation into nan origins of nan virus.

"The origins-tracing of SARS-CoV-2 is astir subject and should not beryllium politicized. China has ever supported and participated successful world science-based origins-tracing," Mao said Monday. "'A laboratory root of nan pandemic was considered to beryllium highly unlikely' is simply a science-based, charismatic conclusion reached by nan experts of nan WHO-China associated ngo aft section trips to nan laboratory successful Wuhan and in-depth connection pinch researchers. It was accurately recorded successful nan mission’s study and has received extended nickname from nan world community."

"Certain parties should extremity rehashing nan "lab leak" narrative, extremity smearing China and extremity politicizing origins-tracing," Mao continued.

LANCET CALLS FOR ‘OBJECTIVE, OPEN AND TRANSPARENT’ DEBATE OVER COVID-19 ORIGINS

China denies reports from nan U.S. saying COVID-19 astir apt leaked from a lab.

China's dismissal comes 1 time aft nan U.S. Department of Energy joined nan FBI successful uncovering that an accidental laboratory leak was nan astir apt root of nan COVID-19 outbreak, though it made nan appraisal pinch "low confidence."

In a connection to Fox News Digital connected Sunday, a spokesperson for nan Energy Department said, "The Department of Energy continues to support nan thorough, careful, and nonsubjective activity of our intelligence professionals successful investigating the origins of COVID-19, arsenic nan President directed.

ANOTHER US AGENCY ASSESSES COVID-19 ORIGIN LIKELY A CHINESE ‘LAB LEAK’: REPORT

National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan was asked astir nan Journal’s study during an quality connected CNN Sunday: "There is simply a assortment of views successful nan intelligence community. Some elements successful nan intelligence organization person reached conclusions connected 1 side, immoderate connected nan other. A number of them person said they conscionable don’t person capable accusation to beryllium sure," Sullivan said.

The Sunday triggered a slew of frustrated responses from Republicans, whose questions astir nan origins of COVID-19 and nan laboratory leak mentation were agelong dismissed arsenic conspiracies.

"Re. China’s laboratory leak, being proven correct doesn’t matter," Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., tweeted. "What matters is holding nan Chinese Communist Party accountable truthful this doesn’t hap again."

Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., says it is clip to clasp China accountable for nan COVID-19 pandemic. (Tasos Katopodis/Pool via AP)

China has many times denied reports that COVID-19 whitethorn person leaked from a investigation laboratory successful Wuhan.

Both nan Washington Post and nan New York Times had accused Cotton of repeating a "fringe theory" erstwhile he mentioned nan laboratory leak anticipation backmost successful February 2020. The Post issued a correction to 1 of its stories much than a twelvemonth aft calling nan mentation "debunked."

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Republicans are apt to renew attraction connected COVID-19's origins now that they power nan House of Representatives and nan committees that travel pinch it.

Fox News' Jessica Chasmar and Danielle Wallace contributed to this report.