Thread:

Interesting Q&A between @SpokespersonCHN and @BBC journalist at the Regular Press Conference of China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Jan 18, 2021

@BBC: There's more coverage today in Chinese state media about what China calls the multiple origins of the virus theory. Can you tell us why China is promoting this narrative in the absence of scientific evidence and with the WHO inquiry into the origins barely just begun?

@SpokespersonCHN: Your question reveals your prejudice against China. The British media have reported on this, haven't they? Why can't the Chinese media report on this?

They also broke news on a variant of the coronavirus last Sept., though the British government did not make any official announcement until December. Reports have emerged from Australia, Italy and many more that the coronavirus was found in multiple places in the autumn of 2019.

China has been open, transparent and candid in conducting origin-tracing cooperation with WHO. When we were still facing an arduous anti-epidemic task domestically, we invited WHO experts to China last February and July.

WHO experts have said that origin-tracing is about science, not politics; we are looking for answers to ensure the safety of the future; anything other than the scientific purpose will not help advance scientific study.

China's openness and cooperation can be seen by all. But why haven't other countries conducted such close cooperation with WHO like China?

@BBC: You mentioned the different theories being discussed in many places around the world, but can I ask you just for clarification. Is it now China's official position that this virus did not start in China?

@SpokespersonCHN: That's quite some deduction work to arrive at a far-fetched conclusion. As we've repeatedly made it clear, the Chinese government's official position is that origin-tracing is a most serious scientific issue.

We should rely on scientists and medical experts to arrive at a conclusion based on science and facts. This is our consistent and official stance.

I would rather draw your attention to the appalling injustice of BBC and some other western media on issues about China. Since it's a matter of science and the WHO experts to China are still conducting their research, then why were there so many conspiracy theories against China?

Just over the past couple of days, I saw again that certain anti-China American politicians were hyping up the conspiracy theory of the virus being related to the Wuhan Institute of Virology. I wonder what's BBC's position on that?

When British media reported that a new variant of the virus was found in the UK back in September, how did you report on that? Media reports must be based on facts. This is the key to their vitality.