This distrust is also due to China's authoritarian government and drive to be a global superpower. There's no doubt they'd lie about what's going on to preserve their reputation for becoming a more prosperous country. The US is likely doing the same thing, but there are limits to the lies Trump and his friends can spin because the US government has less ideological control over its people. "Coronavirus has pushed US-China relations to their worst point since Mao" vox.com