In Washington D.C, the U.S Department of Energy has officially concluded that the Covid-19 pandemic most likely originated from a lab leak in Wuhan, China. The department reportedly did so after receiving “fresh intelligence” that made them reconsider their previous undecided stance on the matter. However, it should be noted that the department did so with “low confidence,” effectively still rendering their determination as shaky, and subject to change should further findings come to light.

This makes the second U.S federal government organization to endorse the odd theory that the Covid-19 pandemic originated from a lab leak in Wuhan, under the communist government of the People’s Republic of China, in contrast to the more popularly scientifically accepted theory that the virus came from a zoonotic jump from bats to humans due to mutation, likely in a wet market within Wuhan itself. 

Four intelligence agencies, as well as the National Intelligence Council, still believe “with low confidence” that natural transmission was responsible, and two remain entirely undecided. It should be noted however, that no agency believes that China is intentionally creating a bio-weapon. The general American intelligence community has reached a judgment that falls somewhere between not sure and who knows.

Of course, that uncertainty has not halted conservative politicians and commentators from declaring victory, with conservatives being among the first to endorse the theory in opposition to the People’s Republic of China. Many have claimed victory over “the cancel mob” and “communist liberals,” proudly declaring that they were correct all along. Of course, those on the left have dismissed the theory as “blatantly sinophobic.”

The COVID-Origination debate seems to be a continuation of many of the elements that dogged political discourse throughout the pandemic: confirmation bias, political polarization, geopolitical tensions, and the hazards of moderating online speech. Tom Cotton, a Republican senator, was the first to suggest the lab theory, albeit without any evidence. 

Regardless, the implications if the lab leak theory were to be true are immense. It could very well lead to a much more decidedly anti-China policy by the United States. However, with the United States holding a close economic relationship to China, many see such as unlikely.