Viruses thrive on ignorance. China’s refusal to co-operate with investigations into the origins of COVID-19 is thus self-harming. Not only does it deepen fears that China will be late in alerting the world to the next novel virus outbreak, but it also fans conspiracy theories that coronavirus was a Chinese plot.

More than three years after COVID-19 erupted, the world has made little progress in preparing for the next pandemic, which is probably a question of time. The fact that the US and China are ensnared in a cold war makes such transparency seem increasingly fanciful. Cold wars stem from mistrust. Global health warning systems are built on trust.

Financial Times