The world’s focus on emerging viruses has intensified since the COVID-19 pandemic. China, home to vast bat populations known to harbor coronaviruses and other pathogens, has been at the center of research efforts aimed at identifying, studying, and preventing potential outbreaks. Recent reports indicate that Chinese scientists are continuing their work on bat viruses, raising important questions about global health security, scientific transparency, and biosecurity risks.
This article explores what we know about China’s bat virus research, key scientific discoveries, laboratory experiments, safety concerns, and the geopolitical implications of these efforts.
The Link Between Bats and Deadly Viruses
Bats are natural reservoirs for numerous viruses, including those capable of infecting humans. In the early 2000s, China faced the SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) outbreak, which was traced to a coronavirus originating from horseshoe bats, with civets acting as intermediate hosts. This event spurred extensive research into bat populations to identify other SARS-like viruses.
Over years of field expeditions in Yunnan’s bat caves, researchers discovered dozens of new coronaviruses related to SARS-CoV. A five-year study found 11 new SARS-like coronaviruses in a single cave, with experiments revealing that some could directly infect human cells via the ACE2 receptor, the same mechanism used by the original SARS virus. These findings suggested that genetic recombination among bat viruses could produce strains with pandemic potential.
One of the most significant discoveries was RaTG13, a bat coronavirus detected by the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV) in 2013. RaTG13 was later identified as the closest known relative of SARS-CoV-2 (the virus responsible for COVID-19), sharing 96% of its genome. While RaTG13 itself is not a direct ancestor of SARS-CoV-2, its existence confirmed that bat viruses with similarities to COVID-19 were already circulating in China’s wildlife long before the pandemic.
China’s research has not been limited to coronaviruses. In 2019, scientists from China and Singapore identified a new bat-borne filovirus named Mengla virus, a relative of Ebola and Marburg viruses. This discovery raised concerns due to filoviruses’ ability to cause severe and often fatal hemorrhagic fevers in humans.
These findings highlight China's active surveillance of bat populations and the rich diversity of potentially dangerous viruses that could pose a threat to global health.
Laboratory Research and Safety Concerns
The Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV) is China’s premier high-containment laboratory, specializing in virus research. Scientists at WIV, led by Dr. Shi Zhengli, have compiled one of the world’s largest collections of bat coronaviruses and conducted experiments to assess their risks.
One particularly controversial study was a 2015 gain-of-function experiment conducted by a U.S.-China research team. Researchers created a hybrid virus by combining a bat coronavirus spike protein with a SARS virus backbone to test infectivity in human cells. The study demonstrated that bat viruses could potentially infect human airway cells, but it also reignited concerns over the risks of manipulating viruses in laboratory settings.
The risks of lab-based virus research are not merely theoretical. In 2004, the SARS virus escaped twice from a high-security lab in Beijing, infecting at least two researchers and triggering a small outbreak. The World Health Organization (WHO) later called for improved safety measures at laboratories handling SARS-like viruses.
China’s Biosafety Measures
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, China has significantly increased its investment in biosafety and laboratory security. As of 2020, China had:
- 2 operational Biosafety Level-4 (BSL-4) laboratories (the highest biosafety level).
- 81 Biosafety Level-3 (BSL-3) laboratories handling dangerous pathogens, with more under construction.
In 2021, China enacted a new Biosecurity Law, which strengthened oversight of pathogenic research. Under this law, China pledged to expand high-level biolabs while ensuring strict safety standards.
Despite these measures, international concerns remain. Many countries, including the U.S., have tightened regulations on gain-of-function research, requiring increased scrutiny for studies involving potentially pandemic-causing viruses.
Recent Discoveries and Experiments
Chinese scientists continue to study bat viruses, with recent reports in 2025 identifying new strains with potential pandemic risks. A key discovery was HKU5-CoV-2, a coronavirus found in bats that closely resembles SARS-CoV-2.
Key Findings from the HKU5-CoV-2 Study:
- Human Cell Entry: HKU5-CoV-2 was found to use the ACE2 receptor, just like SARS-CoV-2, to infect human cells.
- Laboratory Experiments: Tests showed that HKU5-CoV-2 could infect human cells and lab-grown human tissues, particularly those engineered to express high ACE2 levels.
- Potential Risks: While the virus currently has limited infectivity in humans, scientists warn that mutations could make it more adaptable.
- Countermeasures: Laboratory tests found that some antibodies and antiviral drugs developed for COVID-19 were also effective against HKU5-CoV-2.
Expert Opinions on the New Findings
- Dr. Michael Osterholm, a leading infectious disease expert, noted that public panic over HKU5-CoV-2 was overblown, as human immunity to coronaviruses has improved post-COVID-19.
- Professor David Heymann of the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine emphasized that while monitoring such viruses is important, not every discovery signals an imminent pandemic.
The HKU5-CoV-2 case highlights both the scientific value and public concerns surrounding China's research on bat viruses. While early detection of new viruses is critical for preparedness, such findings also generate fears of potential outbreaks.
China’s Public Health and Surveillance Measures
Beyond laboratory research, China has also strengthened public health policies aimed at preventing zoonotic spillovers (transmission from animals to humans).
Wildlife Trade Ban
In February 2020, China implemented a sweeping ban on the trade and consumption of wild animals to reduce the risk of future outbreaks. This ban was widely welcomed by virologists and conservationists, as live animal markets have been linked to past virus transmissions.
Surveillance and Early Detection
Chinese researchers, in collaboration with international teams, continue to monitor bat populations, test animals for novel viruses, and track human cases of unusual respiratory illnesses. Advances in genomic sequencing have allowed scientists to detect and study new viruses more rapidly.
However, for such efforts to be effective, global cooperation and data-sharing are essential—an area where tensions between China and other countries have sometimes hindered progress.
Global Health and Geopolitical Implications
China’s research on bat viruses has become a major geopolitical issue, particularly concerning the origins of COVID-19.
The WHO-China joint investigation in 2021 concluded that a natural spillover event was the most likely origin of SARS-CoV-2, but many Western scientists and governments remained skeptical, citing limited access to critical data. The debate over whether COVID-19 emerged naturally or via a lab accident remains unresolved, fueling political tensions between China and other nations.
China has refused further investigations into the Wuhan Institute of Virology, while the U.S. remains divided on the issue, with intelligence agencies unable to reach a consensus.
Beyond COVID-19, there are broader concerns about how nations should regulate pathogen research, with calls for global biosafety agreements to ensure responsible virus studies worldwide.
Balancing Science and Safety
China’s ongoing research on bat viruses is crucial for understanding potential pandemic threats, but it also raises important safety and transparency concerns. While studying viruses before they emerge in humans is essential, strict biosafety measures, global collaboration, and open data-sharing are necessary to prevent accidental releases or misinformation.
The world must find a balance between scientific progress and biosecurity, ensuring that research helps prevent pandemics rather than increasing the risk of new ones.