Trump promises ‘conclusive’ report on virus’s China origins

Bloomberg

US President Donald Trump promised a “conclusive” report on the Chinese origins of the coronavirus outbreak, showing relations between the world’s biggest economies are set to remain rocky at least until the next election six months from now.
Trump pledged the report in a “virtual town hall” with Fox News, in which he added that he had little doubt that Beijing misled the world about the scale and risk of the disease. Earlier, Secretary of State Michael Pompeo said “enormous evidence” shows the Covid-19 outbreak began in a laboratory in the central Chinese city of Wuhan, without providing evidence to support his claims.
“We’re going to be giving a very strong report as to exactly what we think happened. And I think it will be very conclusive,” Trump said in response to a question about the lab. “My opinion is they made a mistake. They tried to cover it. They tried to put it out, just like a fire.”
American and Chinese officials have been trading charges for weeks as the US became one of the countries hardest hit by the disease. Trump has been ratcheting up efforts to paint China as the villain, as the US economy drifts into recession and the president’s handling of the crisis boosts support for
the presumptive Democratic nominee, former Vice President Joe Biden.
The dispute has complicated efforts to mount a global response to the virus, with US
officials emphasizing Chinese responsibility for failing to stop its spread. The spat also renewed fears that the “phase one” trade deal reached by both sides in January won’t be enough to prevent their relationship from becoming increasingly confrontational.
“The Trump administration’s singular focus on holding China to account for its role in the pandemic scuttles any remaining chance that the US and China will hit pause on their strategic competition ahead of the election,” said Ashley Townshend, director of foreign policy and defense at the University of Sydney’s US Studies Centre.
“The election may well become a referendum on which candidate — Trump or Biden — is most trusted to be tough on China.” The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs didn’t respond to a request for comment, a public holiday in Beijing.
Although China has avoided criticising Trump by name, the foreign ministry accused some US officials of trying “to shift their own responsibility for their poor handling of the epidemic to others.” Chinese state media also released an animated video mocking the speed of the US’s response to the outbreak.
Although China has reprimanded Wuhan police for punishing doctors who sounded early warnings about the disease and replaced local officials responsible for the initial outbreak, Beijing says its response has been open and transparent.
China’s foreign ministry has cited Trump’s tweets praising Xi’s handling of the outbreak as evidence of US satisfaction with its response.
The White House’s deputy national security adviser, Matt Pottinger, is scheduled to speak on the US relationship with China Monday in a online seminar hosted by the University of Virginia’s Miller Center. Pottinger’s remarks will champion democracy and freedom in China and won’t directly address intelligence on the virus, according to a person familiar with the matter. Pottinger will deliver part of his remarks in Mandarin, the person said, calling it a first for a senior US official.
The Associated Press reported that US officials believe China covered up the extent of the outbreak to stock up on medical supplies needed to respond to the virus. Pompeo separately told ABC’s “This Week” that there was “a significant amount of evidence that this came from that laboratory in Wuhan.”