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I would like to point out that the same Winnipeg lab discussed above, seems to have been infiltrated by the Chinese military [0]. If this doesn't concern you, I

I would like to point out that the same Winnipeg lab discussed above, seems to have been infiltrated by the Chinese military [0]. If this doesn't concern you, I'd like to bring to mind that our current pandemic is suspected to have been leaked from a lab in China. That's without discussing any of the bioweapon fears or fear of war between the West and China... [0] https://www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/article-chinese-pla-general-collaborated-with-fired-scientist-at-canadas-top/ https://www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/article-chinese-pla... Edit: changed wording to say "infiltrated by" instead of "had most research taken by" as per discussion below

tim333 5y ago
Also just to illustrate that military labs can screw up a worker at Porton Down, the UK one got bit by a ferret with coronavirus last year, amongst over 100 safety breaches https://archive.ph/IRrgT#selection-867.72-867.83 https://archive.ph/IRrgT#selection-867.72-867.83
- ameminator 5y ago
  Very fair point. More and more it seems very dangerous to do work like this, even with all the safety measures. At the same time, I suspect it's a race to the bottom with bioweapons research - no other explanation makes sense to me on why these labs exist.
germinalphrase 5y ago
“I would like to point out that most of the research, at the same Winnipeg lab discussed above, seems to have been shared with/taken by the Chinese military“ The linked article does not support your assertion that “most” research was shared/taken.
- ameminator 5y ago
  You're right. It only provides evidence that a top member of the Chinese military was working with the lab (specifically with Ebola variants), that this was only discovered after he had access to the lab and that the RCMP are not releasing details on their investigation on the extent that "intellectual property" has been passed on. So, you're right, maybe I should have left it at "infiltrated by the Chinese military".
  - germinalphrase 5y ago
    That would be more accurate (and damning enough), yes.
  - photochemsyn 5y ago
    I don't think the person made any attempt to hide their affiliation, did they? This kind of international cooperation on infectious disease is pretty normal, i.e. that's how smallpox was eradicated, and it's also normal for military branches to have their medical services work on this as well. The issue, of course, is whether this is also cover for development of nation-state biological warfare programs, as this was a tactic used in the past to collect deadly viruses and bacteria by the Soviet, American, British and Japanese biological weapons programs, at least. Secrecy only encourages this kind of insanity, too.
    - ameminator 5y ago
      Well, it does appear that the Canadian government only discovered that scientist was actually a Major-General in the Chinese army after he sent something like 15 vials of biomatter to the (one and only) Wuhan Institute of Virology without authorization. The extent of this leak also appears to be under a "Public Health Gag Order", presumably to hide the ineptitude of Canadian security procedures and to avoid public panic at how extensive this leak is. [0] I only heard about this story after the public health official responsible for the whole thing refused to appear before the Canadian government and give details on what happened. [1] [0] https://www.visiontimes.com/2021/09/17/canada-bsl4-virology-winnipeg-chinese-military.html https://www.visiontimes.com/2021/09/17/canada-bsl4-virology-... [1] https://www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/article-president-of-the-public-health-agency-of-canada-admonished-by-house-of/ https://www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/article-president-o...

tim333 5y ago

Also just to illustrate that military labs can screw up a worker at Porton Down, the UK one got bit by a ferret with coronavirus last year, amongst over 100 safety breaches https://archive.ph/IRrgT#selection-867.72-867.83 https://archive.ph/IRrgT#selection-867.72-867.83

ameminator 5y ago
Very fair point. More and more it seems very dangerous to do work like this, even with all the safety measures. At the same time, I suspect it's a race to the bottom with bioweapons research - no other explanation makes sense to me on why these labs exist.

germinalphrase 5y ago

“I would like to point out that most of the research, at the same Winnipeg lab discussed above, seems to have been shared with/taken by the Chinese military“ The linked article does not support your assertion that “most” research was shared/taken.

ameminator 5y ago
You're right. It only provides evidence that a top member of the Chinese military was working with the lab (specifically with Ebola variants), that this was only discovered after he had access to the lab and that the RCMP are not releasing details on their investigation on the extent that "intellectual property" has been passed on. So, you're right, maybe I should have left it at "infiltrated by the Chinese military".
- germinalphrase 5y ago
  That would be more accurate (and damning enough), yes.
- photochemsyn 5y ago
  I don't think the person made any attempt to hide their affiliation, did they? This kind of international cooperation on infectious disease is pretty normal, i.e. that's how smallpox was eradicated, and it's also normal for military branches to have their medical services work on this as well. The issue, of course, is whether this is also cover for development of nation-state biological warfare programs, as this was a tactic used in the past to collect deadly viruses and bacteria by the Soviet, American, British and Japanese biological weapons programs, at least. Secrecy only encourages this kind of insanity, too.
  - ameminator 5y ago
    Well, it does appear that the Canadian government only discovered that scientist was actually a Major-General in the Chinese army after he sent something like 15 vials of biomatter to the (one and only) Wuhan Institute of Virology without authorization. The extent of this leak also appears to be under a "Public Health Gag Order", presumably to hide the ineptitude of Canadian security procedures and to avoid public panic at how extensive this leak is. [0] I only heard about this story after the public health official responsible for the whole thing refused to appear before the Canadian government and give details on what happened. [1] [0] https://www.visiontimes.com/2021/09/17/canada-bsl4-virology-winnipeg-chinese-military.html https://www.visiontimes.com/2021/09/17/canada-bsl4-virology-... [1] https://www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/article-president-of-the-public-health-agency-of-canada-admonished-by-house-of/ https://www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/article-president-o...