Unveiling the Looming Threat: Biowarfare and the Shadow of Uncertainty

 

The silent threat: bioweapons

   The question that's been lingering since the COVID-19 pandemic emerged is whether it was a natural outbreak or a result of a leak from a Chinese laboratory in Wuhan. Fresh allegations have now resurfaced, asserting a connection between the COVID-19 pandemic, biowarfare research, and Chinese laboratories.

     The Sunday Times uncovered evidence showing that China was actively involved in developing dangerous coronaviruses in collaboration with the Chinese military. The alleged purpose? Biowarfare. This research program is suspected to be the origin of the global pandemic.

     These new allegations rely on a wealth of information, including confidential reports, memos, emails, scientific papers, and insights from US State Department officials who investigated the source of the pandemic. The report also mentions that researchers from the Wuhan laboratory experienced "COVID-like symptoms" in November 2019.

     Meanwhile, in a chilling parallel, my spy thriller novel THE SHADOW WAR delves into the sinister world of covert bioweapon research. In a secluded Russian laboratory, a new viral bioweapon is quietly crafted, hidden from the world's prying eyes. As real-world concerns intersect with fictional narratives, the line between truth and espionage becomes increasingly blurred. We can only hope that such deadly viruses won't be used in future terrorist attacks.

     Back to the real-life Wuhan lab, despite extensive efforts, investigators couldn't pinpoint a natural source for the disease, nor could they decisively conclude that COVID-19 leaked from the laboratory. The lack of transparency from China complicated the World Health Organization's (WHO) investigative efforts, leaving critical questions unanswered.

     China continues to deny any evidence linking COVID-19 to a laboratory origin. What makes this new report particularly intriguing is not just the claimed new evidence but its assertion that Chinese scientists were researching coronaviruses in the context of biowarfare, working alongside Chinese military personnel. This is a disturbing concept involving the intentional use of diseases and biological agents for harm.

     According to a US investigator, Chinese scientists were engaged in vaccine development and, maybe not coincidentally, the Chinese military was interested in a vaccine to protect its troops should it decide to deploy the virus for biowarfare purposes. The report suggests that such a vaccine could potentially shift the balance of world power.

     Although some experts, like former Israeli intelligence officer and biowarfare expert Dany Shoham, have suggested that China was developing biological weapons, others vehemently reject this idea. A report from the US National Intelligence Council has stated, "We judge the virus was not developed as a biological weapon."

     The controversy surrounding the origins of COVID-19 remains intense. Given the severity of bioweapons and their classification as weapons of mass destruction, caution is paramount. Accusations of violating rules on bioweapons are highly sensitive and require a thorough fact-checking process.

     The path ahead may demand a deep, unsettling probe, potentially under the shadow of international organizations such as the WHO. Yet, this journey is shrouded in ominous complexity. China's lack of transparency obscures the truth, while the ambiguous dual-use character of biological research adds layers of obscurity. It becomes an eerie puzzle to differentiate between seemingly benevolent medical strides and the ominous preparations for biowarfare.

     Amid the enigma that envelops biowarfare research, an added stratum of intricacy emerges. These clandestine experiments frequently unfold within covert establishments, equipped with the means for swift deconstruction should the prying eyes of inspectors encroach.

     Should the international community wish to take action, countries might file official complaints against China for potentially violating the 1972 Biological Weapons Convention (BWC). This treaty legally prohibits the possession and use of biological weapons. The US has expressed concerns about China's compliance with the BWC due to a lack of sufficient information.

     Unfortunately, on a sidenote, U.S. intelligence has long suspected a supposedly bioweapons lab created during the Cold War days was never shut down, as promised, and still conducts clandestine bioweapon’s development today. Read The Secret Russian Bioweapons Labs: A Ticking Time Bomb for Global Security.

     As the enigma of the COVID-19 pandemic's origin lingers, so does the haunting specter of biowarfare research and its implications. The cryptic nature of this clandestine realm, illuminated by recent allegations, raises chilling questions about the uses of dangerous coronaviruses. While experts and investigators grapple with ambiguity, one disconcerting truth remains - the potential deployment of deadly viruses in future acts of terror looms as a harrowing possibility.

     In these uncertain times, we can only hope that humanity's shared resolve for peace, as illustrated in my spy thriller THE SHADOW WAR, will stand as the ultimate defense against such nightmarish prospects. 

Robert Morton is a member of the Association of Former Intelligence Officers (AFIO) and authors the “Corey Pearson- CIA Spymaster” series.