[Asia Economy Reporter Naju-seok] Is the novel coronavirus infection (Wuhan pneumonia) outbreak a result of a leak during China's biochemical weapons development? Overseas experts denied conspiracy theories, stating that "the novel coronavirus is not a man-made virus."
On the 29th (local time), The Washington Post (WP) reported that experts denied claims by some that the novel coronavirus might have leaked from the Wuhan Virus Research Institute during biochemical weapons development.
Some media outlets have raised suspicions about the connection between the novel coronavirus and the Wuhan Virus Research Institute. After suggesting the possibility of an accident, some even proposed that the novel coronavirus might have been created during the institute's biological weapons development process. Such conspiracy theories have spread widely, especially on social media services (SNS).
In fact, the Wuhan Virus Research Institute is a Biosafety Level 4 research facility capable of conducting experiments on dangerous pathogens such as Ebola. Because the research facility is adjacent to the outbreak site, it is suggested that an accident or negligence could have triggered the series of events.
Experts have denied such possibilities.
Richard Ebright, a professor of biochemistry at Rutgers University, said, "Considering the virus's genome and characteristics, there is no evidence to suggest it was deliberately man-made."
Tim Trevan, a biosafety expert from Maryland, USA, stated, "Most countries have abandoned biological weapons development, judging them ineffective," adding, "Most new diseases occur naturally."
Elsa Kania, a researcher at the Center for a New American Security (CNAS), pointed out, "Biological weapons must be effective only in targeted areas," and "In contrast, the novel coronavirus has spread widely not only in China but worldwide."
There was also criticism that if biological weapons were being developed, it would have been done secretly, but the Wuhan Virus Research Institute is not such a place. The institute is already well known domestically and internationally as a world-class research center and maintains relatively active exchanges with overseas research institutions compared to typical Chinese research organizations.
Bipin Narang, a professor of political science and diplomacy at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), tweeted, "In theory, a good biological weapon should have high lethality but low or not high transmissibility," and criticized, "The recently spreading conspiracy theories are very irresponsible claims."
Biological weapons conspiracy theories have been raised not only against China but also against the United States. For example, during the 2014 Ebola outbreak, there were conspiracy theories that the U.S. Department of Defense had created the virus.
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