The WHO (World Health Organization) international research team visiting Wuhan, China, to elucidate the source of the new coronavirus, said on the 31st that many patients were confirmed in the seafood market in the early stages of the spread of the infection. I inspected.

On the other hand, a lot of time is spent on inspections such as exhibitions where the Chinese government advertises the results of infection control, and the focus is on the Chinese side to see if it is possible to sufficiently investigate the source.

The WHO research team, which is made up of experts from various countries including Japan, started a full-scale field survey in Wuhan on the 29th of last month, visited hospitals that dealt with patients, and interviewed medical personnel. On the 31st, we visited the seafood market, where many patients were confirmed in the early stages of the spread of the infection, for about an hour.



On the other hand, on the 30th, he stayed for about two and a half hours at the exhibition venue, which advertised that he had succeeded in containing the infection under the guidance of the Chinese Communist Party, and before the inspection of the seafood market on the 31st, We visited another market for about an hour and a half, which the Chinese government advertised as supporting food supply to its inhabitants during the successful control of the infection and the blockade of the city.



On the Chinese side, while the international community has pointed out the delay in the initial response, it seems that the Chinese side is aiming to appeal the legitimacy of the series of responses and avoid criticism.



The investigation team is scheduled to stay in the field until the 11th of this month, but the focus is on the Chinese side to see if they can fully investigate the source of the virus.

China's Attitude Expert View

While the Chinese government has shown its willingness to cooperate with the WHO research team, it has repeatedly argued that the source may be outside of China.



In addition, China's Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian emphasized at a press conference last month that "promoting exchanges and cooperation on source issues is part of global research, not research." While the international community has pointed out delays in the initial response, it seems that this investigation is wary of not leading to a move to pursue responsibility.



Professor Ichiro Kobuki of Kanda University of International Studies, who is familiar with the situation in China, said, "The Chinese side has already drawn a scenario that the source is not China. If the WHO research team provides everything, that scenario will collapse. Therefore, it is unlikely that it will be provided. "



Also, regarding the fact that the research team visited the exhibitions that are strongly promoted by the Chinese government, "I think the Chinese side is in control of where to take it. It has nothing to do with clarifying the source. It seems that I do not want you to touch the core part such as showing a place that is not there. For China, it is important how to avoid the responsibility that became pandemic, and if you accept the investigation and nothing comes out You should think that it will work in your favor. "

The bereaved family who lost their father "We should listen to our story first"

Regarding a field survey by WHO's international research team, Mr. Zhang Hai, who lost his father infected with the new coronavirus at a hospital in Wuhan, told NHK that "the research team should hear the story of our bereaved family first. It is. "



According to Mr. Zhang, before the WHO field survey began, the group chat of SNS in which the bereaved family participated suddenly became unavailable, and the Chinese authorities had a delay in initial response and hiding information. It seems that he is nervous about the voice of the bereaved family who continue to hold the responsibility of the government.