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It's Normal Behavior with Chinese Characteristics

Probably depends on who is asking to be honest. It was a nature site asking a foreign government department a question, I am not particularly surprised. It may not be their role to communicate with foreign journalists either.

Is this normal behavior from a developed country?

No, but China isn't a developed country yet. It's still classified as an "emerging" nation.

Step 1 Don’t get caught

Step 2 You’re screwed if you are

Step 3 Deny Everything

Step 4: accuse others of doing the same thing you’re being accused.

Ignoring entirely no, but it would be entirely normal to refuse to comment if there was an ongoing investigation.

In which case you’d expect to hear “we can’t comment due to an ongoing investigation”.

Whereas this situation is more consistent with the CCP’s inability to acknowledge any error.

Mistakes were made - by others.

It is in China ;)

I was going to say...where do we start...