Blinken: China's early 'failure' on Covid cooperation helped speed pandemic - NBC News

“I think China knows that in the early stages of Covid, it didn't do what it needed to do, which was to, in real time, give access to international experts, in real time to share information, in real time to provide real transparency,” he said.

The World Health Organization said in a March report the virus probably started in bats, and that it’s “extremely unlikely” the virus came from a laboratory leak.

Oftentimes calling the virus the "China virus," former President Donald Trump moved to withdraw from the World Health Organization in the middle of 2020, arguing that the body was too “China-centric,” but the Biden administration reversed that move before it could take effect.

and other developed countries ramp up their Covid-19 vaccinations, Blinken also said that America has a “significant responsibility” and will be a “world leader on helping sure that the entire world gets vaccinated.”.

Blinken’s commentary on China didn’t end at the virus.

posture on tensions there, Blinken said that it would “be a serious mistake for anyone to try to change the existing status quo by force,” and added that “we have a serious commitment to Taiwan being able to defend itself.”

And when it comes to China, we have to be able to deal with China on areas where those interests are implicated and require working with China, even as we stand resolutely against egregious violations of human rights or in this case, acts of genocide."