Remember that china is an isolated nation which means that no information could easily go in or out in the country.
Biological weapon has started since Sars, that is why the Covid is a strain version 2. Using their own people is an intelligent move to hide their true motives.
It is the reason why there are countries who have been discriminating China that instead they are calling the virus Covid-19 or corona virus, they have been calling it chinese virus in social media like Facebook, Twitter and Reddit. Chinese government is really not showomg the full details on where is the virus came from that is why they are being victim of racism.