[yutyut]

To play devil's advocate here: something doesn't need to kill to be an effective Bioweapon.

"The line between disorder and order lies in logistics." -Sun Tzu

COVID has been a logistical nightmare. For everyone.

For the record, no--I don't believe anybody 'engineered' it [or has used it]* as a bioweapon.

*Edit for clarity

[nikofeyn]

why in the world would someone release a bioweapon that would have major and potentially permanent repercussions for their own people and economy?

[2019-nCoV]

It doesn't need to be a deliberate release of a bioweapon to be considered biological warfare. The simple act of knowingly obscuring the transmissibility and extent of the virus, leading to rampant international spread, is biological warfare.

[nikofeyn]

if that's your definition of biological warfare, then you need to consider to yourself that the u.s. government is then waging biological warfare against its own people.

note that i don't agree with your definition.

[2019-nCoV]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biological_warfare

> Biological warfare [...] is the use of biological toxins or infectious agents such as bacteria, viruses, insects, and fungi with the intent to kill or incapacitate humans, animals or plants as an act of war.

Knowingly allowing the spread of a highly contagious, lethal virus fits the definition. The only point of contention is whether the party's actions were due to incompetence or malice.

[mc32]

No normal person would, but accidents do happen especially if you’re lax with protocol and also there crazy people like Amerithrax incidents back in early 2000s where presumably someone with access seems to have had a grudge or something.

That said, it’s one possibility among others, though the animal reservoir theory is the most viable and accepted at this time.

[nikofeyn]

i feel it's a totally dangerous thing to be claiming such things though. it's an incredibly unlikely possibility and strong evidence should be provided before spreading rumors. we have no way of knowing who started these rumors in the first place.

for example, this article is a great read: http://nautil.us/issue/83/intelligence/the-man-who-saw-the-p...

people making baseless claims about the virus, which is happening everywhere and in particular is coming from the u.s., will only seek to harm things for everyone in the long run. it will cause governments to clam up (already happening) and has politicized the virus. now, experts' opinions and life work, like that found in the above article, will continue to be ignored in the chaos that is ensuing.

if the experts on zoonotic viruses are to be believed (why wouldn't you?), then it is clear that there are systematic problems that are leading to the increasing crossover of these zoonotic viruses. by politicizing the virus and hyper focusing on its political enemy, the u.s. is making this thing much, much, much worse (in addition to increasing the current spread within its own borders) and will lessen the impact on preventing future outbreaks. we as a species already struggle to address the issues that cause these outbreaks (overpopulation, encroachment on habitats, socioeconomic issues, etc.), and these actions of rumors and associated behavior, found on this site even, will bury the actual problems, turning everything into a childish and chaotic argument.

[louthy]

If it affected their own people less, gaining a net advantage over other nations. A totalitarian/authoritarian state will always be able to manage an epidemic more effectively than a democratic one.

Disclaimer: I don’t believe this, just playing devil’s advocate

[hoot]

Yep, China has recovered while the rest of the world is still crippled. I wouldn't put it past China to cause harm to their own citizens to gain a position of power.

Disclaimer: Also don't believe this, just playing along.

[nikofeyn]

> Disclaimer: Also don't believe this, just playing along.

everybody keeps saying this, but just stop. it doesn't help and it confuses. all you do is bolster people who skip over your "disclaimer", even if you actually do believe your disclaimer.

[yutyut]

Agreed, that wouldn't be a very smart thing to do at all.

[katbyte]

if they have confidence it will damage their opponents more than theirs?