It's impossible to know what the intention of the Chinese government is.
The system they use to govern their people and the historic lack of guaranteed free speech means that it is impossible to believe any numbers the Chinese government posts. Would you believe Venezuela's or Cuba's' data about the Corona Virus? Why? Why do you believe that China is giving the United States government accurate data?
The assumption in any transaction should be that parties are acting and communicating out of self-interest. China's interests are not the United State's interests.
The same rule applies to any other country we interact with.