The Debate on the Origins of Covid-19

The chapter offers an overview of the debate on the origins of the Covid-19 in Wuhan, China, with a special emphasis on its political and geopolitical implications. The debate currently consists of two main hypotheses, the zoonotic natural origin and the lab accident pathway, none of which has found conclusive evidence. Through an account of the various stages underwent by the debate over the past 4 years, the chapter sheds light on the contextual political elements – both in the United States and in China – that have influenced the scientific and public discussion on the origin of the pandemic. The chapter also discusses efforts of scientists and public health officials in the United States to sideline the lab accident hypothesis and to influence the media to amplify the natural origin. Such efforts are presented as related to an attempt to obfuscate the significant US funding received by a research facility in Wuhan, which is at the center of the lab accident hypothesis. Lastly, the chapter also discusses the alleged involvement of both Chinese and American military and security apparatuses in coronavirus research and anticipates that a further discussion of this particular aspect of the debate might lead to a worsening in the US-China relation.