During the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic, the US shared ‘astonishing’ evidence of a lab leak with the UK

The United States shared shocking evidence with Britain during the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic, suggesting a strong possibility that the virus originated from a Chinese lab. In a high-level meeting of the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing nations in January 2021, concerns were raised about a potential “lab leak” from a research facility in Wuhan, China.

Former US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo presented compelling evidence supporting the lab leak theory to British officials and representatives from Canada, New Zealand, and Australia. However, it was alleged that the UK government, including then-Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, dismissed the theory due to resistance from government scientists who believed the virus had naturally crossed from animals to humans.

The evidence presented by Pompeo included classified intelligence reports collected in the early days of the pandemic, highlighting China’s alleged cover-up of research on coronaviruses and military activities at the Wuhan Institute of Virology. The reports also revealed collaboration between Chinese military officials and the WIV, as well as instances of researchers falling ill before the virus was officially reported.

While the majority of scientific experts maintain that the virus likely originated from an animal-to-human transmission, some government figures, like Michael Gove, have suggested that the virus could have been “man-made.” Calls are now being made for a broader investigation into the origins of Covid-19, with pressure mounting on UK ministers to expand the scope of the Covid Inquiry.

The revelations have reignited the debate surrounding the origins of the virus and raised questions about the transparency of China and the need for international cooperation in understanding and preventing future pandemics.