GHealth News – The CIA now believes that the virus responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic most likely originated from a laboratory, based on an assessment that points to China. However, the agency has expressed “low confidence” in this conclusion.
This assessment, which was not based on new intelligence, was completed at the request of the Biden administration and former CIA Director William Burns. It was declassified and released on Saturday under the leadership of John Ratcliffe, who was appointed by President Donald Trump and sworn in as CIA Director on Thursday.
The agency’s findings suggest that, while the total evidence leans toward a lab origin, the evidence is not conclusive, and the CIA has assigned a low degree of confidence to this conclusion due to gaps, contradictions, or insufficient data.
Ratcliffe emphasized on Fox News’ “Sunday Morning Futures” that the report reflects the assessment of the Biden administration and isn’t politically motivated. He reiterated that the CIA believes a lab-related incident in Wuhan is the most likely cause of the pandemic, but investigations will continue.
Previous reports on COVID-19’s origins have diverged between a lab leak and a natural origin. This new assessment is unlikely to settle the debate, with intelligence officials suggesting that the question may never be fully answered, largely due to a lack of cooperation from Chinese authorities.
In its statement, the CIA reiterated that both a research-related and a natural origin for the pandemic remain plausible.
Rather than new evidence, the CIA’s conclusion is based on updated analyses of intelligence regarding the virus’s spread, its scientific properties, and conditions at China’s virology labs.
U.S. lawmakers have pressured intelligence agencies for more information on the virus’s origins, which have significant domestic and geopolitical implications. Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., called for China to face consequences for its role in the pandemic, suggesting tariffs or repealing China’s permanent most favored nation status.
Chinese officials have rejected the speculation regarding the virus’s origins, labeling the CIA report as lacking credibility and politically driven. A spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in the U.S. urged respect for science and a departure from conspiracy theories.
Though the virus’s origin remains uncertain, many scientists believe it likely circulated in bats before spreading to another species, such as raccoon dogs or civet cats, and eventually to humans at a Wuhan market in late 2019.
Several investigations have questioned the possibility of a lab leak. Two years ago, a report from the Energy Department suggested that a lab leak was the most likely origin, though it too expressed low confidence in its findings. Additionally, FBI Director Christopher Wray has stated that his agency believes the virus most likely spread from a lab.
Ratcliffe, who served as Director of National Intelligence under President Trump, has also expressed support for the lab leak theory, describing it as the only theory backed by science, intelligence, and common sense.
The CIA has stated it will continue to assess any new information that may alter its evaluation.
(AP)