As reported by the media, the German foreign intelligence BND was already suspected in 2020 that the cause of Covid-19 pandemic was accident in the laboratory in Wuhan. At that time, the German Chancellor was Angela Merkel, who was to be informed about the findings of the intelligence service.
The daily “Tagesspiegel” asked Angela Merkel about a position in connection with the findings of intelligence and accusations of covering up the case before the public in connection with political activities. Merkel spokeswoman said that “former chancellor Dr. Merkel basically rejects the accusation formulated in the question.”
From the laboratory in Wuhan?
According to journal “Süddeutsche Zeitung” and the weekly “Zeit”, but also Swiss newspapers “Neue Zürcher Zeitung” Federal Intelligence Service (BND) was supposed to conclude in 2020 that the virus probably came from the laboratory in Wuhana in China. The Chancellor's Office was to be informed about these arrangements. However, it was decided to keep them secret.
The office of Angela Merkel indicated in a statement for “Tagesspiegla” that in order to answer substantive questions, please contact the Chancellor's Office, because official documents from Merkel's term of office are stored there.
The German government – currently with Olaf Scholz – stated that he had acknowledged journalists. However, he cannot comment on the arrangements and intelligence. In such cases, appropriate committees are reporting behind closed doors.
China speaks
After media reports China called for restraint. – In terms of coronavirus, China definitely reject all forms of political maneuvers – said the spokeswoman for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs Mao Ning. She added that Chinese Republic Ludna believes that scientific issues should be evaluated by scientists.
Not only Chinese state officials were surprised by reports, but also members of the German parliamentary control committee, also responsible for intelligence services. – Unfortunately, there is a fundamental problem: about 80 percent of all scandals, mishaps and highly controversial matters, we learn not in responsible committees, but through the media – said Lewica party politician André Hahn, who was a member of the commission by the end of 2023. “It has improved a bit in recent years,” he admitted. And he added that the issue of coronavirus was not at the commission's center. The health committee would take care of the origin of the virus. – If the government had intelligence information on this subject, he was obliged to inform the Parliamentary Control Commission. And whether it is public, it is another matter – commented the leftist's politician.
WHO: This is not the end of the investigation
A spokeswoman for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs referred to the group of experts of the World Health Organization (WHO), who talked to scientists from the appropriate laboratories in Wuhan. This group came to the conclusion that the leakage of the virus from there is “highly unbelievable” – she explained.
According to WHO, the investigation has not yet been completed, and all hypotheses regarding the origin of the SARS-COV-2 virus are still valid. The investigation from 2021 was only the beginning, not the end. At the end of December 2024, WHO again called China to provide data and access to determine the origin of Covid-19.
(DPA/DOM)
The article comes from the website Deutsche Welle