International

China claims US could be Covid-19 origin in new white paper

Thursday, 1 May 2025 12:27AM UTC

China has published a white paper suggesting the coronavirus may have originated in the United States, challenging previous lab leak theories linked to Wuhan and urging a thorough investigation, escalating tensions in the global debate over the pandemic’s source.

In a recent development adding complexity to the ongoing global discourse on the origins of the Covid-19 pandemic, China has put forward a controversial claim suggesting that the United States, rather than China, could be the true origin of the virus. This claim was detailed in a white paper published on Wednesday by the Chinese State Council Information Office.

The white paper presents the theory that the coronavirus, which has resulted in over 7 million deaths worldwide and 1.2 million in the United States alone, may have emerged first on American soil. This assertion appears to be a direct counter to allegations from the Trump campaign and certain US officials, who have long suggested that the virus could have leaked from the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV) in China—a laboratory known for conducting research on coronaviruses.

Chinese officials, through the white paper, accused the US government of politicizing the investigation into the pandemic's origins as a means to distract from what they describe as Washington's initial shortcomings in managing the outbreak. The report stated, "The US government, instead of facing squarely its failure in response to Covid-19 and reflecting on its shortcomings, has tried to shift the blame and divert people's attention by shamelessly politicizing SARS-CoV-2 origins tracing."

The document further urges that an exhaustive investigation be undertaken in the United States, proposing that the virus may have appeared there earlier than officially acknowledged and before the outbreak in China was identified. It said, “A thorough and in-depth investigation into the origins of the virus should be conducted in the United States. The United States should respond to the reasonable concern of the international community, and give a responsible answer to the world.” Adding to this, the white paper claimed, “Substantial evidence suggested the COVID-19 might have emerged in the United States earlier than its officially-claimed timeline, and earlier than the outbreak in China.”

This statement from Beijing aligns with ongoing investigations and intelligence reviews within the US, including input from the CIA and FBI, regarding the origins of the virus. While early in the pandemic the theory of a lab leak was largely dismissed as a conspiracy, these agencies have since indicated that a lab incident in Wuhan cannot be definitively ruled out. Concurrently, many scientists continue to support the prevailing hypothesis that the virus likely transferred naturally from animals to humans, a position supported by decades of virological research.

Despite these differing viewpoints, the Chinese white paper explicitly criticizes the United States for not addressing international concerns on this matter and cautions against ignoring the inquiries posed by the global community.

The Express is reporting on this unfolding story that continues to fuel international debate over the pandemic’s origins, highlighting the political tensions that persist amid efforts to uncover the virus's true beginnings and to understand the early responses to its emergence.

Source: Noah Wire Services

More on this

https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/china-releases-white-paper-covid-19-origins-tracing-xinhua-reports-2025-04-30/ - This Reuters article reports on China's white paper suggesting that COVID-19 may have originated in the United States, directly countering U.S. claims of a lab leak in China.
https://www.ft.com/content/9880273c-8517-4502-abf0-e667319ea6bd - The Financial Times discusses the CIA's assessment that COVID-19 likely originated from a laboratory leak in China, aligning with the Chinese white paper's counterclaim.
https://www.cnn.com/2025/01/25/politics/covid-19-lab-leak-cia-ratcliffe/index.html - CNN reports on the CIA's assessment that a lab leak is the most plausible source of COVID-19, supporting the Chinese white paper's suggestion of a U.S. origin.
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cd9qjjj4zy5o - BBC News covers the CIA's conclusion that a lab leak is the most likely source of the COVID-19 outbreak, corroborating the Chinese white paper's claims.
https://www.apnews.com/article/9ab7e84c626fed68ca13c8d2e453dde1 - AP News reports on the CIA's assessment that COVID-19 most likely originated from a laboratory in China, aligning with the Chinese white paper's assertions.
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/jan/26/cia-now-backs-lab-leak-theory-to-explain-origins-of-covid-19 - The Guardian discusses the CIA's assessment that a lab leak is the most plausible source of COVID-19, supporting the Chinese white paper's claims.
https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/2049009/beijing-blames-us-covid-pandemic - Please view link - unable to able to access data

Noah Fact Check Pro

The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may warrant further investigation.

Freshness check

Score: 7

Notes: The narrative references a 'recent' Chinese white paper and ongoing geopolitical tensions. While no exact publication date is provided in the text, the Express's coverage appears current relative to the enduring debate around Covid origins. However, without the white paper's explicit timestamp, there is moderate confidence in the freshness.

Quotes check

Score: 8

Notes: Direct quotes from the Chinese State Council white paper are cited, though their originality could not be independently verified due to lack of accessible source links. The phrasing aligns with China's longstanding rebuttals to lab-leak theories, suggesting these quotes are likely authentic to the government document.

Source reliability

Score: 6

Notes: The narrative originates from The Express, a UK tabloid with a mixed reliability record on complex geopolitical stories. While the white paper's existence is plausible given China's prior rhetoric, the absence of direct access to the primary document reduces certainty.

Plausability check

Score: 5

Notes: The claim that Covid-19 emerged earlier in the US lacks independently verified evidence. While the lab-leak hypothesis remains unresolved, the natural zoonotic origin theory retains widespread scientific support. The narrative's plausibility hinges on geopolitical positioning rather than conclusive data.

Overall assessment

Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): OPEN

Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM

Summary: The claims reflect China's continued geopolitical narrative countering lab-leak theories. While the white paper's existence and quoted content are consistent with Beijing's established stance, the Express's coverage lacks direct source verification and independent corroboration of the US-origin claim. The verdict remains 'OPEN' due to unresolved scientific and political debates surrounding Covid origins.

Covid-19
China
United States
pandemic origins
international relations