China has supported and participated in global science-based COVID origins-tracing since day one, and has been firmly opposed to all forms of political manipulation, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said at a press briefing on Friday.

Mao reiterated China's efforts in origins tracing, noting that the country had twice received World Health Organization (WHO) experts for research during COVID-19. To share the findings, China also recommended experts to join WHO's Scientific Advisory Group for the Origins of Novel Pathogens (SAGO). Furthermore, Chinese scientists shared additional data on early samples of COVID-19 cases with the rest of the world.

"China has shared more data and research findings than any other country and made the most contribution to the origins study," Mao said.

She emphasized the importance of paying equal attention to the clues for tracing origins, and mentioned that the unknown pneumonia cases that occurred in the U.S. in 2019 and the closure of the U.S. bio lab at Fort Detrick have not been investigated, despite the fact that questions are being raised.

"[The U.S.] has not yet responded to the WHO request for data sharing," Mao said.

The spokesperson called for the WHO to keep a science-based, objective and impartial position and not let politicization get in the way.

She urged the U.S. to stop politicizing on the issue and share data of its suspected early cases in 2019, to "give people of the world the truth they deserve."