Secretary of State Michael Pompeo claimed that there is “enormous evidence” that the coronavirus began in a laboratory in the City of Wuhan in China. Pompeo made that claim during an appearance on the “This Week” on ABC, although he did not offer any evidence that would back his claim.

“I can tell you that there is a significant amount of evidence that this came from that laboratory in Wuhan. These are not the first times that we’ve had a world exposed to viruses as a result of failures in a Chinese lab,” Pompeo said. The Secretary of State also agreed with the claim that the virus was not genetically modified, which means it probably isn’t man-made. It would also mean that the outbreak was probably caused by an accident inside a Chinese laboratory. That would indicate the lack of expertise of the people manning the laboratory.

The origin of the virus has increased the tension between the United States and China. With the United States becoming the epicenter of the virus and suffering from a 66,000 death toll, the highest of any country in the world, President Trump is not mincing words when it comes to laying blame at the doorstep of China.

The President and his staff have stepped up on their criticisms of China, with the President even attacking mainstream media news outlets saying that they are acting as a propaganda machine for the Chinese Communist Party because they want to do business there.

Pompeo said that China acted like an authoritarian regime by blocking scientists from getting samples of the virus. He said that China’s actions are a threat to the entire world. The United States is not alone in demanding an explanation from China about the origins of the virus which is now causing widespread damage around the world.

The Chinese government has threatened Australia for its call to have an independent inquiry into the origins of the virus. Beijing retaliated with a threat to the Australian economy. China also coerced the European Union into altering its report on the coronavirus which originally would have been highly critical of China.