A little different spin keeps everyone guessing~~
The theory has gained traction over the past few weeks, after a respected epidemiologist Zhong Nanshan, said in a passing remark at a press conference on 27 February that although the v***s first appeared in China “it may not have originated in China”.
Zhong later clarified his statement, saying that the first place where a disease is discovered does not “equate to it being the source”. He told reporters: “But neither can we conclude that the v***s came from abroad. Only through investigation and tracing can we answer that question.”
Yet only Zhong’s first comment has stuck, repeated by Chinese diplomats, state media and officials who have subtly encouraged the idea.
On Thursday, a foreign ministry spokesman suggested without evidence the US military might have brought the v***s to the W***n, the centre of the outbreak. Zhao Lijian accused the US of lacking t***sparency, saying on Twitter: “When did patient zero begin in US? How many people are infected? What are the names of the hospitals? It might be US army who brought the epidemic to W***n. Be t***sparent! Make public your data! US owe us an explanation!”
China’s ambassador to South Africa said last week on Twitter that the v***s was not necessarily “made in China”.
An editorial in Xinhua last week also echoed Zhong: “The epidemic was first reported in China but that does not mean it necessarily originated in China … The WHO has said many times that C****-** is a global phenomenon with its source still undetermined.”
Officials have framed the campaign as a protest against the “politicisation” of the outbreak by countries such as the US, where some officials have continued to use the terms “Chinese c****av***s” or “W***n v***s,” despite the World Health Organization’s discouragement. But analysts say China may be looking to deflect blame as the c****av***s spreads around the world.
“We might be heading into first global recession caused by Chinese C*******t party mismanagement,” wrote Bill Bishop, author of the China newsletter Sinocism. “Previous manmade disasters in China since 1949 never really spread outside the People’s Republic of China’s borders in meaningful ways.”
“This time looks to be different … And that is likely one of the reasons the propaganda apparatus and PRC officials are pushing so hard the idea that v***s may not have originated in China,” he wrote.
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https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/12/conspiracy-theory-that-c****av***s-originated-in-us-gaining-traction-in-china