It seems like at least two of the named Chinese researchers deny being sick at the time. Whether you trust their word or the word of anonymous alleged government sources says more about you than reality.
So it’s about whether you are the kind of person who believes free speech exists in China or whether you believe that it doesn’t really exist and that researchers will say what the CCP wants them to say when it comes to issues that are very important to the CCP.
It’s about whether when you put someone on trial for murder and they say “I didn’t do it” you believe them or whether you find other people more believable.
So it’s about whether you are the kind of person who believes free speech exists in China or whether you believe that it doesn’t really exist and that researchers will say what the CCP wants them to say when it comes to issues that are very important to the CCP.
It’s about whether when you put someone on trial for murder and they say “I didn’t do it” you believe them or whether you find other people more believable.