{"id":2099253,"date":"2023-11-15T06:08:08","date_gmt":"2023-11-15T11:08:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/biden-xi-meeting-congressional-investigation-of-covid-19-origins-looms-over-us-china-relations\/"},"modified":"2023-11-15T06:13:25","modified_gmt":"2023-11-15T11:13:25","slug":"biden-xi-meeting-congressional-investigation-of-covid-19-origins-looms-over-us-china-relations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/biden-xi-meeting-congressional-investigation-of-covid-19-origins-looms-over-us-china-relations\/","title":{"rendered":"Biden-Xi meeting: Congressional investigation of COVID-19 origins looms over US-China relations"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">22<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fbiden-xi-meeting-congressional-investigation-of-covid-19-origins-looms-over-us-china-relations%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2099253&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><h2>The Shadow Over the Biden-Xi Meeting: Congressional Investigations into COVID-19 Origins<\/h2>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/musk-plans-to-go-ahead-with-original-price-of-54-20-a-share-for-twitter-sources\/\" title=\"Musk plans to go ahead with original price of .20 a share for Twitter- sources\">highly anticipated face-<\/a>to-face meeting between President Joe Biden and\u200c Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in San Francisco is being overshadowed by congressional investigations into\u2062 the origins of \u200bthe COVID-19 pandemic.<\/p>\n<p>While there are many topics on \u200cthe agenda for Biden and Xi, Republicans in the House and Senate\u200c believe that uncovering the\u2062 exact origins of SARS-CoV-2 is of utmost importance.<\/p>\n<h3>Demands for \u2062Answers<\/h3>\n<p>Chairman\u200c of the House\u2063 Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic, Brad Wenstrup (R-OH), emphasized the need for substantial answers, stating that the &#8220;devastation that the world has undergone&#8221; due to COVID-19 cannot be ignored.<\/p>\n<p>The impact of \u200bthe pandemic has been staggering, with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimating 1.15 million American\u2063 deaths involving COVID-19\u200b between 2020 \u200cand 2023, and\u2063 a global\u2063 death toll surpassing 3.4 million. The economic cost has been equally significant, with the U.S. economy losing an\u200c estimated $14\u200c trillion.<\/p>\n<p>Wenstrup urged President Biden to press President Xi on why China allegedly hid information about COVID-19 from the rest of the world, a question that weighs heavily on the\u2062 minds of Chinese leaders \u2064due to congressional pressure.<\/p>\n<h3>Avoiding Accountability<\/h3>\n<p>Wenstrup&#8217;s subcommittee received an email expressing opposition \u2063to the COVID-19 origins investigation from the Embassy\u200d of the People&#8217;s Republic of China. In response, Wenstrup called \u200bfor Chinese researchers affiliated with the \u200dWuhan Institute of Virology to testify\u2064 before Congress, but \u200dhis request has gone unanswered.<\/p>\n<p>Chairman of the Energy and Commerce\u2063 Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, Morgan Griffith, stated that evidence\u2063 reviewed by Congress indicates\u200b that the virus likely originated from the lab \u200bas an accident. Chinese\u200d officials at the Wuhan Institute \u200bof Virology allegedly purged information related to genetic sequences of coronaviruses, including SARS-CoV-2, after <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/try-again-sens-hawley-braun-demand-biden-admin-turn-over-more-covid-origins-info-after-evasive-response\/\" title=\"Sens. Hawley and Braun press Biden Admin for additional COVID origins information after evasive reply.\">researchers fell ill<\/a> with COVID-19-like symptoms.<\/p>\n<p>The involvement of U.S. taxpayer dollars through \u2063the National Institutes \u2064of Health in funding projects at the Wuhan Institute of Virology has raised further concerns.<\/p>\n<h3>Congressional Subpoenas \u200band Stonewalling<\/h3>\n<p>The House\u2064 Energy and Commerce and Oversight committees \u200chave jointly subpoenaed leadership from the Department of Health and Human Services \u2064due\u200b to the Biden administration&#8217;s reluctance to cooperate with the investigation. The administration&#8217;s lack of transparency has\u200b drawn criticism \u200cfrom \u200bSenator Rand Paul and others.<\/p>\n<p>Despite the recent confirmation \u200cof a new permanent director for the NIH, Monica Bertagnolli, doubts remain about the impact \u2063on the investigation, as key figures like Francis Collins and Anthony Fauci have retired \u2062from public service.<\/p>\n<p>Senator Paul emphasized the importance of revealing the truth about the\u200c origins of COVID-19, \u2064stating that &#8220;the American people deserve to know.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>As the Biden-Xi meeting takes place,\u200d the cloud of the congressional investigations looms large, highlighting the urgency and significance of uncovering the truth behind the pandemic&#8217;s origins.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Click here to read more from \u2063the Washington Examiner.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p> <\/p>\n<h2> What controversies surround\u2063 the origin of the virus, particularly the theory of a laboratory leak?<\/h2>\n<p><span>  P further highlighted \u200dthat the\u200d lack of transparency \u200cfrom China \u200cduring \u200dthe early \u200bstages of the pandemic has \u200braised suspicions and hindered efforts to effectively respond\u200d to the crisis. He argued that\u200d understanding the origins of the virus\u200b is crucial not only for justice and\u2063 accountability but also \u2062to prevent future similar\u2064 outbreaks.<\/p>\n<p>Republicans in Congress have\u2064 been \u2063calling for\u2062 a thorough investigation into\u2062 the origins of \u200cCOVID-19 for months.\u200b They\u200d accuse\u2063 the Chinese government\u2062 of covering up the origin of the virus and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/elon-musks-twitter-deposition-rescheduled-for-oct-6-7\/\" title=\"Elon Musk\u2019s Twitter deposition rescheduled for Oct. 6-7\">withholding critical information<\/a> that \u200ccould have helped\u2062 contain its spread. They argue that China&#8217;s\u2062 actions have had devastating consequences\u2062 globally,\u2062 warranting a comprehensive examination of the origins of the virus.<\/p>\n<h3>Theories\u200d and Controversies<\/h3>\n<p>One of the \u200cmain theories that have generated controversy is the possibility that the virus leaked from a laboratory, most\u200d notably the Wuhan Institute of Virology, which \u2064is known\u2062 for studying coronaviruses. While there is still\u2064 no definitive evidence supporting this theory, Republicans in \u200cCongress argue that it should not be dismissed\u2064 and should be\u2063 thoroughly investigated. They believe that \u200bChina&#8217;s lack of cooperation and transparency raise suspicions about the origins \u2063of the virus.<\/p>\n<p>However, the World Health Organization \u2063(WHO), in its initial investigation conducted earlier this year, deemed the lab leak theory highly unlikely. Instead, they suggested that the virus most likely originated from an animal source. Yet, Republicans remain skeptical of the WHO&#8217;s findings, calling for an \u200cindependent\u2063 and unbiased examination of the origins.<\/p>\n<h3>The Biden-Xi Meeting<\/h3>\n<p>The upcoming meeting between \u200cPresident Biden and President Xi is an important \u200dopportunity to\u200d address these concerns and seek answers. The Biden \u2064administration has expressed\u200c its \u200dsupport\u2064 for further\u2064 investigations into the origins of COVID-19, stressing the \u200bneed for transparency and\u200b cooperation from China. President\u2062 Biden has faced pressure from both parties to hold China \u2062accountable for its actions and push for a comprehensive investigation.<\/p>\n<p>However, navigating the delicate balance between addressing the pandemic&#8217;s origins and maintaining a productive relationship with China \u200dis a challenge \u2063for the Biden administration. The meeting between the two presidents is \u2063expected to\u2063 be a\u200d crucial moment\u2064 in\u200d discussing these issues\u200b and setting the tone for future cooperation.<\/p>\n<h3>A Way Forward<\/h3>\n<p>Regardless\u2062 of any ongoing investigations, it is \u200dclear\u2063 that \u200cthe world needs to learn from the COVID-19 pandemic and take steps to\u200c <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/massive-homeless-zone-must-be-cleared-in-45-days-after-judge-drops-the-hammer-on-city-officials\/\" title=\"Judge orders city officials to clear massive homeless 'zone' within 45 days.\">prevent similar crises<\/a> in the future. This includes improving transparency\u200c in public health emergencies, enhancing international cooperation, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/biden-xi-meeting-congressional-investigation-of-covid-19-origins-looms-over-us-china-relations\/\" title=\"Biden-Xi meeting: Congressional investigation of COVID-19 origins looms over US-China relations\">implementing effective early \u200cwarning systems<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>While the\u2064 investigations\u2062 into the origins\u2064 of COVID-19 continue, it is essential to remember\u2063 that the focus should ultimately be on preventing future outbreaks and saving lives. \u200dThe Biden-Xi meeting\u200d should serve as a\u200c stepping stone towards strengthening\u2064 global cooperation and ensuring that the world is better prepared for future health crises. Accountability and transparency will be \u2062crucial in building trust and mitigating the devastating\u200c effects of\u2064 any future pandemics.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>that the focus will be on holding China accountable for the pandemic. This could strain the already tense relationship between the two countries, as the investigations raise questions about China&#8217;s transparency and handling of the virus. The outcome of the meeting remains uncertain amidst these growing concerns.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2099254,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[538],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2099253","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-washington-examiner"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2099253","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2099253"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2099253\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2099254"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2099253"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2099253"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2099253"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}