Speaking to reporters at the State Department this week, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo addressed the Chinese Communist Party's (CPP) handling of dangerous pathogens and warned the Wuhan Institute of Virology, where the Wuhan coronavirus likely originated, is not the only lab in the country conducting experiments.
"A broader question on China, if I may. How would you say that the Chinese behavior – this disinformation that you are talking about – what effect do you think that has on a long-term relationship with the U.S.? Do you think it will damage it significantly?" a reporter asked.
"Nations that desire to be part of the global landscape have obligations for truthful information, they have obligations to share and be transparent and open. That's our expectation for every country," Pompeo responded. "Seeking to transfer responsibility or to deny access to the world so that the world can figure out what's going on, you have to remember, these labs are still open inside of China, these labs that contain complex pathogens that were being studied. It's not just the Wuhan Institute of Virology. There are multiple labs inside of China that are handling these things. It's important that those materials are being handled in a safe and secure way such that there isn't accidental release."
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