◎Suppressed Evidence and Silenced Scientists
—China Cornered by Circumstantial Proof of the Virus’s Origin—
June 12, 2020
The Chinese government is not only believed to have erased key academic papers, but also to have silenced the researchers themselves.
Some analysts suggest that Beijing may have gone so far as to fabricate false retraction statements—a sign of how aggressive its cover-up may be.
The “erased paper” in question was authored by Professor Botao Xiao of the School of Biology and Biological Engineering at South China University of Technology in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, along with other researchers specializing in biology.
The monthly magazine I’m referencing here is a must-read not only for Japanese but for people all around the world.
Despite being packed with legitimate journalism like this article, it costs only 950 yen.
The following is an excerpt from an article by Kenosuke Tokito, titled “China Cornered by Circumstantial Proof of the Virus’s Origin,” published in the current issue of WiLL magazine.
This article makes it starkly clear that the Japanese media—especially television broadcasters—no longer qualify as true press organizations and are, in fact, operating under Chinese influence or even control.
All emphasis within the text (except the title) is mine.
◎Trump’s Investigation into the Wuhan Institute of Virology
—And the Full Text of the Reassessed, Erased COVID-19 Paper—
The conflict between the U.S. and China over the origin of COVID-19 remains unresolved.
In fact, it has only grown more intense.
On April 15, President Trump announced that the United States was investigating the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV) under the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Wuhan, Hubei Province, as the origin point of the virus.
While he denied claims that it was a Chinese biological weapon, he clearly indicated that the virus may have leaked due to lax safety protocols.
By April 30, Trump went even further, stating flatly that he had “seen the evidence.”
China, in turn, categorically denied the accusations.
On April 16, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian countered:
“The WHO Director-General has repeatedly stated there is no evidence the virus was created in a lab. For reference, many prominent medical experts around the world consider the lab-leak theory scientifically unfounded.”
The two sides have clashed head-on.
Yet despite claiming to have “seen the evidence,” President Trump has repeatedly said he “cannot talk about the details.”
So why is he so confident?
One expert familiar with U.S.-China intelligence matters offers this explanation:
“There appears to be solid evidence. First, there’s the U.S. State Department’s internal investigation. In 2018, CIA science officers operating under diplomatic cover visited the Wuhan Institute of Virology multiple times. They later sent diplomatic cables warning of safety deficiencies.
Second is the so-called 'erased paper'—an academic paper believed to have been removed by Chinese authorities. It addressed the Wuhan lab directly. Not long after the deletion, the author reportedly sent an email to The Wall Street Journal claiming to have voluntarily withdrawn it, but that retraction itself may have been coerced by the Chinese government.”
The Washington Post reported on the State Department’s investigation based on those diplomatic cables.
According to their reporting, U.S. science attachés who visited WIV twice had expressed strong concerns about its biosafety measures.
The cables even mentioned that Chinese researchers at the institute were themselves uneasy about the lab’s safety.
◎The Erased Paper
The “erased paper” was written by Professor Botao Xiao and colleagues, and uploaded to the academic networking site ResearchGate on February 6.
However, it was removed shortly thereafter, and the authors disappeared from public view.
The same intelligence source commented:
“The paper included statements suggesting that a new virus had been developed at the genetic level.
This was something the Chinese government could not allow to stand.
If exposed, it could provoke national unrest and considerable international backlash.
It is believed that the government was involved in the deletion.
The authors, including Professor Xiao, are suspected to have been detained.”
Thus, not only was the paper erased, but the researchers appear to have been silenced—possibly even forced to issue false retraction statements.
Taken together with earlier reports, this suggests China may have deployed extremely aggressive methods to bury the truth.
In light of these developments, the United States reportedly reevaluated the paper.
After all, if China was so determined to conceal it, it must have been damning.
Now, the paper is once again drawing global attention.
This article continues.
