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| Biden Signs Law Requiring Release of Intelligence on Covid-19 Origins |
US President Joe Biden has signed a law requiring the release of intelligence information regarding the origins of the Covid-19 pandemic. The legislation mandates the declassification and sharing of intelligence materials on potential links between the outbreak and the Wuhan Institute of Virology. Biden stated that his administration will release as much information as possible without compromising national security. The issue has become a rallying point for Biden’s Republican opponents, despite political risks posed to his relationship with Chinese leader Xi Jinping.
The Covid-19 pandemic has caused almost seven million deaths worldwide, with over a million of those in the United States alone. Health officials and the US intelligence community remain divided over the origins of the pandemic, with some suggesting it was spread randomly to humans from an infected animal and others arguing that it was leaked during research undertaken at the Wuhan Institute of Virology. The US Energy Department and the FBI have concluded with “low confidence” that the virus probably came from a lab, contradicting the conclusions of several other agencies.
The law poses a significant challenge to Biden's relationship with Xi Jinping, who vehemently rejects the possibility that the pandemic was caused by a leak during research at the Wuhan lab. Despite the challenges, Biden remains committed to uncovering the truth behind the origins of Covid-19. As investigations continue, the hope is that the release of declassified information will help to shed light on the origins of the pandemic and prevent future pandemics from occurring.
