Documents released by the Canadian government this week shed light on the intricate web of connections between Canadian scientist Xiangguo Qiu and the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV) in China, raising serious questions about the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Qiu, while employed by Canada, was clandestinely involved in transferring lethal virus samples to China. More shockingly, she was recruited to lead WIV’s synthetic bat filovirus project alongside a senior Chinese scientist involved in contentious research on a hybrid bat coronavirus.
The withheld documents, reviewed by sources, suggest a direct link between Qiu and Dr. Shi Zhengli, often dubbed the “bat woman” for her work on bat vaccines in China. Dr. Shi, a deputy-director at WIV, has been at the center of speculation regarding the origins of COVID-19.
While no definitive conclusion has been reached on whether COVID-19 originated from WIV, Western intelligence agencies, including the FBI, have voiced concerns about Chinese scientists working with bat viruses that may have inadvertently leaked into the population.
Although contested, some Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) investigators, privy to the Qiu probe, support the notion that Qiu’s involvement in WIV projects aligns with the FBI’s assessment.
“Anti-Asian racism”
In May 2021, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau advocated to cease the investigation regarding two scientists connected to the Chinese military and the transferring of deadly viruses from a high security lab in Winnipeg to the WIV.
“he rise in anti-Asian racism we have been seeing over the past number of months should be of concern to everyone. I would recommend that the members of the Conservative Party, in their zeal to make personal attacks, not start to push too far into intolerance towards Canadians of diverse origins,” Trudeau then said.
Observers now see this move in a different light following recent developments. The Bureau, which outlined the report, said that Trudeau’s attempt to suppress these records underscores their significance, as they suggest Qiu’s involvement alongside numerous international scientists in studies pertaining to bat coronaviruses, raising questions about the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to CSIS documents, WIV covertly employed Qiu to provide guidance on bio-security and safety training for lab workers. Her unique access to a Level 4 lab outside China made her a valuable asset for WIV, highlighting the secretive nature of her involvement.
Despite mounting concerns and international scrutiny, China has vehemently opposed investigations into WIV’s potential role in the COVID-19 outbreak, dismissing such inquiries as conspiracy theories.
The CSIS investigation, aided by another intelligence agency within the Five Eyes alliance, discovered Qiu’s pivotal role in a WIV animal infection project, where she was listed as being in charge of overall planning. This project, spanning from June 2019 to May 2021, was allocated a substantial budget of 250,000 Chinese yuan per year.
Further revelations from the documents indicate the involvement of Chinese virologists and senior scientists from WIV, identified only as “Individual 1” and “Individual 2,” respectively, in handling project design and animal infection work.
Individual 2, who was hired by Health Canada in February 2018, has been implicated in attempted theft of materials from a Winnipeg lab in 2018, adding to the complexity of the situation.
Of particular concern is WIV’s engagement in gain-of-function (GOF) research, which raises significant biosafety and biosecurity risks. The CSIS report highlights the potential dangers associated with such studies, particularly in manipulating virus strains.
Furthermore, the documents reveal a covert collaboration between Qiu and the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), facilitated through WIV’s sponsorship under the Thousand Talents Plan, a program targeted by the FBI for its extraction of civilian research for military use.
In light of these revelations, questions abound regarding the extent of Qiu’s involvement in projects with potential military applications and the implications for global biosecurity.
Information for this briefing was found via The Bureau and the sources mentioned. The author has no securities or affiliations related to this organization. Not a recommendation to buy or sell. Always do additional research and consult a professional before purchasing a security. The author holds no licenses.
