China intentionally concealed coronavirus data from the international community, according to a report from the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
"China likely cut its exports of medical supplies prior to its January WHO (World Health Organization) notification that COVID-19 is a contagion," the report states, according to the source.
The report evaluated export and import data earlier in 2020. The source said that document was distributed within the federal government on Friday. ABC first reported the existence of the material.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo backed administration claims that China made efforts to conceal the gravity of the coronavirus outbreak. This also involves hiding the stockpiling of medical supplies.
"You've got the facts just about right," Pompeo told ABC's "This Week" when asked if China intentionally stockpiled medical supplies in early January while it concealed the severity of Covid-19.
"We can confirm that the Chinese Communist Party did all that it could to make sure that the world didn't learn in a timely fashion about what was taking place."
Pompeo's statements came after President Donald Trump's administration mulls over holding China accountable for the coronavirus pandemic and punishing the country in the long run.
Potential sanctions on China
According to different sources, among the potential sanctions on China are canceling US debt obligations and developing new trade policies.
The DHS document reveals "in its communications, China intentionally concealed its trade activity by publicly denying it has ever imposed an export ban on masks and other medical supplies," the source says.
The source told CNN that the report was examined in "moderate confidence." The source furthered that it is reasonable to say that before the coronavirus outbreak, China would acknowledge crucial signs in determining requirements for the need to wear personal protective equipment.
The US has "to be mindful about, 'what do you do about it?'" the source stressed. "Is this a trigger that propels industry here? Will there be enough in the stockpile going forward?" the source said.
China can access various raw materials that can help run a production line of goods needed in addressing the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the source. These goods are surgical gowns, masks or goggles.
"They have a robust manufacturing capability and workforce that can quickly ramp up manufacturing," the source said.
Pompeo said on Sunday the Chinese Communist Party made some efforts that were far from the public eye. However, others remained public, such as not allowing medical professionals into laboratories in Wuhan and muzzling scientists.
"President Trump is very clear, we're gonna hold those responsible accountable and we'll do so on a timeline that is our own," Pompeo said.
"High degree of confidence"
Trump said last week that he has a "high degree of confidence" that the coronavirus sprang from a laboratory in Wuhan. However, he was not able to present evidence to back his claim.
Regarding the evidence, Pompeo said: "There's enormous evidence that that's where this began."
"We've said from the beginning that this was a virus that originated in Wuhan, China. We took a lot of grief for that from the outside, but I think the whole world can see now," he said.
"There is a significant amount of evidence that this came from that laboratory in Wuhan," he reiterated.
Not man-made
Meanwhile, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence said that the "Intelligence Community also concurs with the wide scientific consensus that the COVID-19 virus was not man-made or genetically modified."
Moreover, Pompeo said that he has "no reason to disbelieve" the intelligence community, adding, "I've seen their analysis. I've seen the summary that you saw that was released publicly. I have no reason to doubt that that is accurate."
Pompeo stressed that China "behaved like authoritarian regimes do, attempted to conceal and hide and confused and employed the World Health Organization as a tool to do the same."
"These are the kinds of things that have presented this enormous crisis and enormous loss of life and tremendous economic loss all across the globe," he said. "The Australians agree with that, you hear the Europeans beginning to say the same thing, and I think the whole world is united understanding that China brought this virus to the world."
