Australia is calling for an independent investigation into the origin of the novel coronavirus and the path of its spread. Distrust of China’s concealment and lack of transparency is spreading not only in the United States and Australia, but also in Germany and France.

May 3, 2020
Australia is strengthening its move to call for an “independent investigation” in order to clarify the origin of the novel coronavirus and the route by which the infection spread.
There is no need for debate that, in Japan today, the Sankei Shimbun is the most decent newspaper not under Chinese influence.
In other words, it is no exaggeration to say that, regarding China, there is no newspaper other than the Sankei Shimbun that reports the facts.
The following is from today’s Sankei Shimbun.

Australia calls for an investigation into China’s origin.
Strong distrust of its concealment-prone nature.
Singapore, Hiroshi Mori.

Australia is strengthening its move to call for an “independent investigation” in order to clarify the origin of the novel coronavirus and the route by which the infection spread.
This is because there is strong distrust of China’s attitude toward information disclosure from the outbreak until now.
The Chinese side is fiercely opposing this, but criticism of its concealment-prone nature is coming not only from the United States and Australia, but from others as well.
Australian Foreign Minister Payne, in a television appearance on April 19, expressed the view that a third party should conduct an “independent investigation” into the circumstances of the outbreak and spread of the novel coronavirus.
She also said that concern over China’s transparency is at a “very high level.”
Regarding the World Health Organization, WHO, which is criticized as being pro-China, she also stated that Australia “shares the concerns held by the United States,” showing a posture of supporting President Trump, who announced the suspension of funding.
Prime Minister Morrison also said on the twenty-ninth, “The idea of obtaining an independent assessment makes sense,” and indicated his intention to propose it at the WHO General Assembly to be held from May 17 to 21.
He is said to have already held telephone talks with the leaders of the United States, Germany, France, and others, and conveyed his views.
For Australia, China is its largest trading partner, accounting for about thirty percent of its exports.
However, even apart from coronavirus measures, the prevailing view among diplomatic sources is that China is “not a partner one can trust.”
Caution has been growing toward China’s hardline posture of seeking expansion into the South Pacific, and last year there were a series of reports about suspicions of domestic operations by Chinese intelligence agencies.
In response to Australia’s move, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang reacted on April 20, saying, “Ms. Payne’s remarks are groundless. China expresses serious concern and firmly opposes them.”
Cheng Jingye, China’s ambassador to Australia, told an Australian newspaper, “Ordinary people in China may think, ‘Why should we drink Australian wine and eat Australian beef?’”
He even hinted at economic pressure.
It is clear that concern over China’s transparency is growing stronger.
German Chancellor Merkel said at a press conference on the twentieth, “The more transparent China is, the better it will be for the world.”
French President Macron also told a British newspaper, “There are clearly things that have happened that we do not know.”
Australia’s move to call for an independent investigation may spread further.