For some, politicizing WHO research trip takes precedence over saving lives: China Daily editorial

As a key part of the country's pandemic control measures, it is compulsory for anyone entering China from overseas to undergo quarantine. There are no exceptions. Even the members of the World Health Organization team that have arrived in Wuhan to conduct research in the city where the novel coronavirus cases were first identified must undergo the stipulated quarantine.

The experts participating in the research trip will have been informed of this in advance and must have agreed to it.

Nonetheless, some Western media, who are still trying to lay the blame for the pandemic at China's door, and realizing the research might deny them further opportunity, have jumped on the WHO team's quarantine as "proof" that China is "impeding" its research.

The only thing there is proof of is the anti-China bias of Western media such as The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times. Despite the change of administration in the United States, they are once again trying to smear China.

Even though the WHO scientists have spoken highly of China's quick and effective response when the spread of a new virus was identified in Wuhan; even though Chinese scientists were the first to map the genetic sequence of the virus and share it with the world; even though China has been the largest contributor of essential medical supplies to the rest of the world; and even though how and where the virus jumped to humans has still to be determined, these media organizations are still promoting the previous administration's nasty claim that China is to be held responsible for the pandemic.

Along with the medical workers and community workers fighting on the front line against the virus, the scientists at the forefront of the nation's efforts to understand the previously unknown virus receive their due respect in China and their guidance is heeded.

But these Western media are trying their best to convince people that in China politics prevail over science, facts and lives.

It is a charge better leveled at their own governments, which have ignored the scientific advice in pursuit of their own short-term interests.

On the contrary, China has left no stone unturned in its efforts to protect people's lives once the nature of the threat was realized.

Notably, the attempts by the two US media organizations to resurrect the former US president's infamous "China Virus" conspiracy came when Biden said on Friday that "We're 400,000 dead, expected to reach well over 600,000".

The WHO has made it crystal clear that the research in Wuhan has a scientific purpose. It is aimed at trying to gain more knowledge about the virus and its transmission so as to avoid a similar pandemic in the future. Despite this, these media outlets obviously feel no qualms about distorting its mission.

The US president's call for unity should apply to the international community and its fight against this common enemy, as it is a case of all for one and one for all. However, that essential solidarity will not be forthcoming until the Western media put facts and common sense above ignorance and prejudice.