NEW YORK, – The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) has assessed that the COVID-19 pandemic is more likely to have originated from a laboratory incident rather than natural transmission, a spokesperson for the agency said on Saturday. The conclusion, which comes with “low confidence,” marks a shift in the agency’s longstanding uncertainty on the matter.
For years, the CIA had stated it could not determine whether the virus emerged from a lab or occurred naturally. However, in the final weeks of President Joe Biden’s administration, former CIA Director William Burns directed agency analysts and scientists to prioritize a conclusive assessment, recognizing the pandemic’s historic implications, according to a senior U.S. official.
Despite the new assessment, the CIA maintains that both scenarios—lab origin and natural emergence—remain plausible. It remains unclear what new intelligence, if any, contributed to the agency’s latest findings.
Beijing Dismisses Lab Leak Theory
China’s government has consistently rejected the notion that a laboratory leak caused the pandemic. In response to the CIA’s latest assessment, a spokesperson for the Chinese embassy called the conclusion “misleading” and unsupported by “substantial evidence.”
“The source of the virus is a complex scientific issue, and scientists and experts should find the answer through rigorous and meticulous scientific research, rather than being judged by politicians,” the spokesperson said in a written statement to Reuters on Sunday. Beijing continues to assert that claims of a lab leak lack credibility.
China has previously accused the U.S. of politicizing efforts to uncover the virus’s origins, especially in light of investigations led by American intelligence agencies. The Chinese government says it has actively supported and participated in global research on COVID-19’s origins.
New CIA Director Prioritizes Origins Assessment
Newly confirmed CIA Director John Ratcliffe stated in an interview with Breitbart on Friday that determining the origins of the pandemic was one of his top priorities. Ratcliffe, who was confirmed by the U.S. Senate last week, has openly supported the lab-leak theory.
“That’s a day-one thing for me,” Ratcliffe said. “I’ve been on record, as you know, in saying I think our intelligence, our science, and our common sense all really dictate that the origins of COVID was a leak at the Wuhan Institute of Virology.”
The debate over COVID-19’s origins continues to divide experts, with international calls for transparent, science-led investigations into the matter. Both the World Health Organization and independent scientists have urged caution in drawing definitive conclusions without robust evidence.
The controversy has fueled broader geopolitical tensions between the United States and China, underscoring the challenges of addressing a pandemic that has claimed millions of lives worldwide.