New Bat Viruses Discovered in China 'Raising Urgent Concerns'
Newsweek2 days
China: Scientists Discover 20 New Viruses in Bats
Above: Passengers walk at Jinhua Railway Station on Jan. 12, 2025 in Jinhua, Zhejiang Province of China. Image copyright: Li Jianlin/Visual China Group/Getty Images
The Spin
Anti-China narrative
China's discovery of 20 new bat viruses, including deadly henipavirus relatives with 75% fatality rates, demands immediate global transparency. Given the catastrophic secrecy surrounding COVID-19's emergence, the world cannot afford another information blackout. Lives depend on China sharing comprehensive data now, not after another pandemic begins.
Pro-China narrative
China has "always adhered to scientific openness and transparency," promptly sharing COVID-19's genetic sequence and treatment experiences globally. Beijing actively supports international health cooperation, firmly opposing political manipulation while emphasizing its moral commitment to preventing future pandemics through data sharing.