Biden National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan Downplays Report Saying COVID Likely Came From Chinese Lab

Jake Sullivan, national security advisor, said that the government has privately informed communist China of its intention to send sanctions if it supplies weapons to Russia for use in its war on Ukraine. Sullivan also dismissed a U.S. intelligence report which concluded that the COVID pandemic originated in a Chinese laboratory.

Sullivan made the comments during a Sunday interview with Dana Bash (CNN) on Sunday. “State of the Union.”

“We will continue to send a strong message that we believe that sending military aid to Russia at this time, when they are using their weapons to bombard cities, kill civilians and commit atrocities, would be a bad mistake, and China should want no part of it,” He stated.

Sullivan stated that President Joe Biden was his greatest achievement. “clearly and specifically behind closed doors” China was told what the consequences would be if the Russians were to receive weapons.

Sullivan was also questioned about a Sunday Wall Street Journal report which stated that a classified intelligence document from the Department of Energy found that COVID likely originated from a Chinese leak.

“Did the coronavirus pandemic start in a lab?” She was curious. “Is that what you believe now?”

“One of the things in that ‘Wall Street Journal’ report which I can’t confirm or deny, but I will say the reference to the Department of Energy, President Biden specifically requested that the National Labs, which are part of the Department of Energy, be brought into this assessment because he wants to put every tool at use to be able to figure out what happened here,” He replied. “And if we gain any further insight or information, we will share it with Congress and we will share it with the American people. But, right now, there is not a definitive answer that has emerged from the intelligence community on this question.”

DANA BASH, CNN HOST, Jake Sullivan, President Biden’s national-security adviser, is joining me now.

We are so grateful that you joined us this morning.

Bill Burns, director of the CIA, said he was confident that China might consider giving Russia lethal aid. Do you think China could provide this assistance soon?

JAKE SULIVAN, U.S.NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER: Dana, I want to thank you for having us on.

Director Burns, Bill Burns from the CIA, stated that they haven’t yet seen them do it. We haven’t actually seen them make a final decision about providing the assistance to Russia. We haven’t even seen Russia get the aid.

We will monitor closely, be vigilant, and continue to send a clear message to Russia that military assistance should not be given at this time when Russia is using its weapons to bomb cities, kill civilians, and commit atrocities. China should not be allowed to do that.

BASH

SULLIVAN We haven’t seen them doing it.

I would prefer to keep our communications to China on this issue, what would the consequences be, in the private high level diplomatic channels that were established to discuss these matters. Secretary Blinken visited Wang Yi, China’s top diplomat just a few short days ago in Munich. They had a long conversation on the subject.

Secretary Blinken placed the U.S. position into perspective. I will keep that serious and important conversation about China’s support of Russia in the war in Ukraine behind closed doors.

BASH

SULLIVAN We have dealt with the issue of whether China might offer military aid to Russia since the beginning of the conflict.

BASH: Right, but you said that Secretary Blinken made clear…

SULLIVAN: Right.

Dana, my point was that, as President Biden stated previously, we aren’t just making threats. We are simply laying out both the risks and the consequences to see how things will unfold.

BASH: I see.

SULLIVAN

BASH: How concerned — just kind of look at this big picture. What do you think about these two U.S. enemies working together in Ukraine? And what does that mean for the relationship?