Chinese military linked to Wuhan lab suspected of COVID-19 outbreak, per cables.

Newly-Unearthed Cables Reveal Concerns Over Wuhan Lab’s Ties to Chinese Military

Recently obtained State Department cables have shed light on the early concerns of the United States government regarding the deep connections and research collaboration between the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV) and the Chinese military during the search for the origins of COVID-19.

The cables, obtained through the Freedom of Information Act by U.S. Right to Know, were originally classified as “SECRET” but have since been labeled as “Sensitive.” They highlight the links between the WIV and the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), as well as other Chinese institutions such as the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and the Academy of Military Medical Sciences (AMMS).

Uncovering the Connections

One cable from August 2020, titled “Taiwan Analysts Probe PLA Links to Biotech Labs and Companies in Wuhan,” describes Wuhan as “China’s Biotech Center and a Model City for MCF Development.” It mentions the Wuhan lab’s long-standing ties to the Chinese military, although these sections are heavily redacted.

The cable reveals that the PLA was involved in the construction of the WIV and maintained a presence at the lab even after its completion. It also suggests possible connections between the WIV and PLA bio-warfare research institutes, as well as the Wuhan Institute for Biological Products.

Another cable from August 2020 discusses the Chinese Communist Party’s military-civil fusion program and highlights the prominence of biotech under this strategy. It mentions the American Institute in Taiwan’s findings regarding the MCF strategy and its references on the official website of the Wuhan branch of CAS.

Confirmation and Reports

The cables support previous claims made by the Trump State Department, which released a fact sheet in January 2021 stating that the WIV had collaborated on secret projects with China’s military. Dr. David Asher, who led the State Department’s investigation into the origins of COVID-19, confirmed that the information behind the fact sheet came from sensitive, non-diplomatic sources.

Senator Marco Rubio also released a report in May, stating that the WIV maintained a collaborative relationship with the PLA AMMS and that some WIV researchers were trained by the PLA. The Senate Health Committee’s minority staff report further suggested that a PLA professor had been working with the WIV on coronavirus research prior to the pandemic.

Cover-Up and Controversy

One cable from July 2020 assessed that China’s central government, specifically Beijing, was responsible for the cover-up of the coronavirus outbreak. It claimed that Beijing knew earlier than they admitted and that the initial outbreak could have been contained if not for the cover-up.

Recent reports from The Times of London and Public and Racket have also implicated the Wuhan lab in the leak of the virus, with intercepted communications and scientific research suggesting dangerous experiments were being conducted.

Despite these revelations, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence has stated with “low confidence” that COVID-19 most likely had a natural origin.

President Joe Biden has signed the “COVID-19 Origin Act of 2023,” which aims to declassify and share as much information as possible regarding the origins of the virus.

These newly-unearthed cables provide further insight into the State Department’s efforts to understand the role of the Wuhan lab and its connections to the Chinese military during the height of the COVID-19 outbreak.