What happened to the lab-leak hypothesis?
I initially dismissed the lab leak hypothesis because <i>surely</i> nobody would be stupid enough to make new SARS virus strains on purpose. They’re worthless as biological weapons, and the risks are insane.<p>Then it turns out that that is precisely the type of research the Wuhan lab does regularly.<p>And then when our prime minister merely suggested an investigation, China put punitive tariffs on billions of dollars of our exports to them.<p>Because clearly, that’s how innocent governments with nothing to hide act.<p>Immediate, massive retaliation for merely suggesting that someone should look into things.<p>But everybody should believe the Chinese government! They told you: it came from a pangolin in the market. Why would they lie?<p>They lied about the reason for the punitive tariffs, sure, making up some insane story about centrally orchestrated “dumping”.<p>Okay, so they lied. But not about Wuhan! That would be unethical…