Advertisement

Updated March 15th, 2024 at 13:22 IST

China discussed weaponising coronaviruses before pandemic, predicted WW3 with bio-weapons

Describing SARS ­coronaviruses as heralding a “new era of genetic weapons”, China's scientists claimed the viruses could be “artificially manipulated".

Reported by: Priya Pareek
China
(Image credit: AP/Pixabay) | Image:self
Advertisement

As the world continues to battle the deadly coronavirus pandemic with China receiving widespread criticism over the origin and handling of the virus, new explosive documents have now revealed that China discussed weaponisation of COVID-19. People's Liberation Army (PLA) commanders predicted that World War 3 would be fought with biological weapons, documents obtained by the US State Department reportedly reveal. 

As per the documents, Chinese military scientists discussed the weaponisation of SARS coronaviruses five years before the COVID-19 pandemic originated and spread to various parts of the world. Outlining their ideas, top scientists predicted that these coronaviruses could be used to fight the third world war. 

Advertisement

China probed weaponisation of coronaviruses

The paper obtained by the US officials were reportedly written by military scientists and senior Chinese public health officials in 2015, The Australian reported adding that it was a part of their own investigation into the origins of COVID-19. The new details once again raise questions over China's role in the spread of coronavirus with major concerns about China's transparency on the origins of COVID-19

Advertisement

In these documents, there are references of work by US Air Force colonel Michael J. Ainscough who had predicted that World War 3 may be fought with bioweapons. Some of China's top public health figures have been listed in these documents among 18 other authors. Ten of the authors are scientists and weapons experts affiliated with the Air Force Medical ­University in Xi’an, according to the report by The Australian.

Authenticity of documents verified

Robert Potter, a digital forensics specialist, said the documents have been verified. He claimed that "We were able to verify its ­authenticity as a document authored by the particular PLA ­researchers and scientists stated." Robert, who has worked with for the US, Australian and Canadian governments, said: "We were able to locate its genesis on the Chinese internet.” The document has been revealed in an upcoming book on the origins of Covid - titled What Really Happened In Wuhan.

Earlier this week, Brazil President Jair Bolsonaro had also raised serious questions while blasting China for COVID-19 handling. Further, he suggested that China could have developed the pathogen in a laboratory and disseminated it as a “biological warfare” for economic gain. According to The Brazilian Report, in an event on Wednesday, Bolsonaro posed doubts over the coronavirus origin and even questioned “are we not facing a new war?”

Advertisement

China's transparency under scrutiny

China has long been questioned over its handling of the COVID-19 pandemic which first originated in Wuhan in the year 2019. The virus rapidly spread across other parts of the world as China crawled back to normalcy with strict lockdown and restrictions. With many conspiracy theories making rounds on internet, several speculate that the coronavirus leaked in a lab in Wuhan while some believe that it originated in the wet markets where wild animals are traded.

Advertisement

Tom ­Tugendhat MP and Australian politician James Paterson said that these documents "raise major concerns about the ambitions of some of those who advise the top party leadership." Calling China’s evident interest in bioweapons "extremely concerning", he noted that "these weapons are dangerous" even under the highest curbs.

The novel coronavirus has so far infected 157,593,275 people across the world and 3,285,620 have succumbed to the pandemic. More than a year since its origin, SARS-CoV-2 continues to spread across the world claiming more and more lives with nations urging citizens to get vaccinated. 

Advertisement

Published May 8th, 2021 at 15:26 IST

Your Voice. Now Direct.

Send us your views, we’ll publish them. This section is moderated.

Advertisement
Advertisement

Trending Quicks

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Whatsapp logo