3/Contrary to what many in the West may think, the Chinese government is not a monolith.

What we found was that though Chinese scientists - like scientists elsewhere - sought the truth, politicians stepped in to steer the narrative from the start.

4/It starts at the Huanan Seafood Market in Wuhan, where many of the first COVID-19 cases were traced to.

We already know when China CDC researchers arrived at the scene to collect samples, the market was being hosed down with disinfectant, destroying critical evidence.

5/But a recording we're revealing for the first time shows WHO’s top animal virus expert, Peter Ben Embarek, discussed an inspection of the market on Dec. 25, 2019, at least six days before the first inspection publicly known.

6/If it took place, it's significant b/c at the time Wuhan officials were aware of the mysterious disease, meaning it may have taken place due to the virus. There were prior inspections Michael Standaert found in 2019, but that was before anyone could have known
x.com/mstandaert/sta…

7/But we don't know any further details. Chinese authorities never publicized it, and WHO appears to not have followed up on it. We don't know why. We couldn't independently confirm it - only one scientist we talked to heard of it, and only second-hand.

8/Almost immediately, things got political. Within China, scientists wanted to research and publish, but were stymied by politicians who sought to avoid blame for the unfolding outbreak. Beijing opened investigations into officials, adding to tension.
apnews.com/article/b981ea…

9/As health officials feared for their jobs, one stepped in & played a key role: epidemiologist Liang Wannian, who came to Wuhan on Dec 31 and steered things from the start.

Liang is described as more politician than scientist, disliked by many in China's public health field.

10/But Liang wielded outsized influence b/c of ties to top officials. One source said Liang was close to then-Beijing Party Secretary Cai Qi, a Xi confident, winning him trust from the very top. Another said Liang had a close working relationship with China's Foreign Ministry.

11/Liang worked with China's Foreign Ministry to manipulate WHO experts visiting China on their first mission in Feb 2020, lobbying them to praise China while sidelining scientists researching the virus both inside and outside China, like WHO's Ben Embarek, who was denied a visa.

12/Liang discussed with WHO's Bruce Aylward 'the best way to ensure we meet China's need for a strong assessment' - resulting in language so flattering others suggested he 'dial it back'

13/Opportunities were sought to distance China from the virus. WHO officials avoided the name 'SARS-CoV-2' because it evoked the SARS outbreak in 2003, which Beijing botched badly.