Gain-Of-Function Experiments in Wuhan Institute of Virology
President Richard Nixon in November 1969 announced that the United States was destroying its stockpile of biological weapons and discontinuing all research regarding them other than defensive requirements such as immunization and protection against them. He justified this decision by stating that such weapons have the potential for uncontrollable consequences including global epidemics.
Subsequently, in January 1975, the BWC (Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention) was signed by President Gerald Ford after approval by the UN General Assembly by a 110-0 vote. It required stockpiles of biological weapons to be destroyed and banned development and storage of them except for “peaceful purposes.”
Reference: Tom Mangold and Jeff Goldberg, Plague Wars: The Terrifying Reality of Biological Warfare, 1999.
I’m not sure what “peaceful purposes” meant, but during this century, scientists have been creating monster viruses through “gain of function” genetic alteration experiments.
In 2014, President Obama restricted such actions with the edict stating the following: In light of recent concerns regarding biosafety and biosecurity, effective immediately, the U.S. Government (USG) will pause new USG funding for gain-of-function research of influenza, MERS, or SARS viruses. An exception could be obtained “if the head of the USG funding agency determines the research Is urgently necessary to protect the public health or national security.”
Reference https://www.thelibertybeacon.com/obama-admin-ended-block-on-gain-of-function-research-days-before-trump-took-office/
In spite of this, the Pentagon gave millions of dollars to the EcoHealth Alliance, which diverted funds to the Wuhan Institute of Virology for gain-of-function research on coronaviruses.
Reference: Nicholas Wade, How COVID-19’s Origins Were Obscured, by the East and the West, Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, August 17, 2021
Reference: Josh Boswell and Martin Gould, Dailymail.com, June 4, 2021
The Obama administration reauthorized the funding for gain-of-function research in January 2017