could be linked with imported salmon

[GoodTaste]

Does the passage quoted below sound natural in English? Well, at least "could be linked with imported salmon" should be "could be linked to imported salmon" (or "could be linked up with imported salmon"). It is written by a native Chinese.

=================

After the recent cluster outbreak of COVID-19 in Beijing, which many people believe could be linked with imported salmon sold at a wholesale market in the capital, customs across China have intensified inspection and coronavirus tests over food in the cold chain, such as seafood products, meat and frozen vegetables, that were imported from countries and regions withhigh risks of the epidemic, Song said.

Source: China Daily June 20, 2020
https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202006/20/WS5eed5d83a3108348172544f2.html

 

[tedmc]

I think linked with and linked to are both natural and acceptable.
Linked up with is not natural.

 

[GoodTaste]

I think linked with and linked to are both natural and acceptable.
Linked up with is not natural.

Link up with refers to To create or establish a connection between one person or thing and someone or something else. The connection between the COVID-19 there and the imported salmon was created.

 

[teechar]

No.
link A to/with B can mean ascribe/attribute A to B; i.e. infer/deduce a causal relation between them.

link A up with B does not mean that.
It just means connect A and B, so they can somehow interact.