NZ hits wait on WHO report into origins of Covid-19 in China
New Zealand has not joined countries in decrying the difficulties faced by the World Health Organisation investigation into the origins of Covid-19 in China.
The WHO released an inconclusive report into the possible origin of the Covid-19 virus on Tuesday, and the international body’s directorgeneral, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said the investigating team that travelled to Wuhan ‘‘expressed the difficulties they encountered in accessing raw data’’.
A coalition of 14 countries – including those
New Zealand commonly aligns with; the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia – issued a more pointed statement which amplified concerns the report lacked required data.
‘‘The international expert study on the source of the SARS-CoV-2 virus was significantly delayed and lacked access to complete, original data and samples,’’ the statement said.
The prospect of a WHO investigation into the origins of the Covid-19 pandemic turned diplomatically fraught in May. Australia was early to call for the investigation and an incensed Beijing retaliated with hefty trade tariffs on barley, beef, and lamb.
New Zealand, which joined the call for an investigation in May 2020, did not join the statement on the investigation’s outcome. A spokeswoman for Foreign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta said, in a statement, that ‘‘New Zealand is pleased that the report has been released’’.
‘‘Our technical experts are currently analysing the report. As this is a scientific report, we want to make sure we understand the science before making any comment. We will wait until our experts have finished analysing the report.’’
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade issued a statement that echoed Mahuta’s, and said the country’s ‘‘decision not to join any statement was made independently’’.
Victoria University strategic studies professor Robert Ayson said ‘‘on the surface’’ it was a bit surprising that New Zealand did not join the statement, whereas one of the signatories was Korea, a country less inclined to join such efforts.
‘‘The 14 signatories are the sort of wider group that New Zealand is often comfortable working with. The statement is itself carefully worded and not designed to cause maximum offence,’’ he said. ‘‘I think New Zealand wants to say it does not raise things that will surprise other parties. When Australia wanted an inquiry months ago New Zealand hardly jumped at the opportunity. So maybe there is consistency there.’’
He said New Zealand did not always sign statements along with the Five Eyes intelligence alliance countries – the US, UK, Canada and Australia – but there had been a pattern of New Zealand supporting statements regarding human rights concerns in Xinjiang and Hong Kong.