China accused the U.S. Monday of politicizing Covid-19’s pandemic. This was despite the Energy Department’s conclusive conclusion that the coronavirus probably arose out of an unintended laboratory spillage.

According to a memo that was recently given to members of Congress and the White House, the Energy Department concluded that the pandemic started in a Chinese laboratory. This information was obtained by The Wall Street Journal. This agency joins the FBI in preferring lab-leak theory over natural-transmission theory.

According to the New York Times, Mao Ning, a spokeswoman for China’s foreign ministry, stated that “Covid tracing” is a scientific matter that shouldn’t be politicized. Ning also demanded that the U.S. stop defaming China by raising the lab leak theory.

The U.S. intelligence agencies differ on the possible origins of the virus. However, China claims that it has ruled out the possibility for a laboratory leak. The conspiracy theory that Covid was the result of research at Fort Detrick, Md. by the U.S. military, has been spread by China to try and deflect responsibility.

Officials have not identified four agencies and the National Intelligence Council, but they still believe that the virus was transmitted naturally from infected animals. Undecided remain the Central Intelligence Agency (or another agency officials won’t identify).

According to the memo, the Energy Department reached its conclusion with “low confidence” but it is a departure from its earlier undecided position.

All agencies agree that Covid was not the result of a Chinese program to develop biological weapons.

China’s latest criticism of the U.S. government is occurring amid escalating tensions among the two superpowers. The U.S. is becoming more concerned that China may supply Russia weapons and ammunition to use in Ukraine. This includes the spy balloon incident from earlier this month.

Senator Tom Cotton was an early advocate of the lab-leak theory. He explained that this news should only increase the U.S. determination to examine China.

Cotton wrote, “[Regarding] China’s lab leak, it doesn’t matter if you’re proven right.” “It is important to hold the Chinese Community Party responsible so that this doesn’t happen again.”

A new House select committee was established last month to examine China’s competition. A hearing will be held in the House Foreign Affairs Committee on Tuesday to discuss how to combat the “aggression” of the Chinese Communist Party.