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In an unprecedented legal counterattack, the People’s Republic of China has filed a $50 billion lawsuit against Missouri Republican Senator Eric Schmitt, stemming from litigation he initiated during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic when he served as Missouri’s attorney general.
The lawsuit, filed by the People’s Government of Wuhan Municipality, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and the Wuhan Institute of Virology, accuses Schmitt, FBI co-deputy director Andrew Bailey, and the state of Missouri of damaging their reputations through what they characterize as “malicious vexatious litigation” and spreading “stigmatizing and discriminating slanders.”
Senator Schmitt responded defiantly to the legal action, telling Fox News Digital that he considers it “a badge of honor” to be targeted by the Chinese government. “China’s sinister malfeasance during the COVID-19 pandemic led to over a million Americans losing their lives, economic turmoil that rocked our country for years, and an enormous amount of human suffering,” Schmitt stated.
The origins of this international legal dispute date back to early 2020, when then-Missouri Attorney General Schmitt sued China, several of its government ministries, the Communist Party of China, the Wuhan Institute of Virology, and the Chinese Academy of Sciences. His lawsuit alleged that Chinese authorities withheld crucial information about the COVID-19 virus, failed to contain the outbreak, and deliberately hoarded high-quality personal protective equipment while producing inferior products for global distribution.
Earlier this year, that case resulted in a $24 billion judgment against China in U.S. federal court.
Missouri’s current Attorney General Catherine Hanaway expressed unwavering commitment to collecting on that judgment, dismissing China’s new lawsuit as “a stalling tactic.” Hanaway added, “I find it extremely telling that the Chinese blame our great state for ‘belittling the social evaluation’ of The Wuhan Institute of Virology. This lawsuit tells me that we have been on the right side of this issue all along.”
The Chinese lawsuit not only seeks approximately 356 billion Chinese Yuan (equivalent to $50 billion) in damages but also demands formal apologies be published in major Western media outlets including The New York Times, CNN, Wall Street Journal, and Washington Post, as well as in Chinese media.
The case represents an escalation in tensions between the United States and China regarding responsibility for the pandemic. The Wuhan Institute of Virology has been at the center of controversy concerning COVID-19’s origins, with some U.S. officials suggesting the virus may have leaked from the facility—a claim Chinese authorities have consistently denied.
Andrew Bailey, who resigned as Missouri’s attorney general after being appointed by President Donald Trump to serve as co-deputy FBI director in September, is also named as a defendant in China’s lawsuit.
This legal battle unfolds against the backdrop of deteriorating U.S.-China relations and lingering questions about the true origins of the pandemic. It also highlights the unprecedented nature of transnational litigation related to COVID-19, with both nations’ court systems being used to assign blame and seek compensation for the pandemic’s devastating global impact.
Senator Schmitt dismissed the legal action as factually baseless and legally meritless, asserting that any judgment from a Chinese court would be easily defeated and prevented from being enforced against Missouri citizens. He characterized the lawsuit as China’s attempt to “distract from what the world already knows, China has blood on its hands.”
The case raises complex questions about sovereign immunity, international jurisdiction, and the enforceability of foreign judgments across national boundaries—particularly between countries with vastly different legal systems and increasing geopolitical tensions.
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7 Comments
This legal dispute highlights the tensions between the US and China, especially around the origins of COVID-19. It’s a complex issue with valid concerns on both sides. I hope the courts can provide some clarity and impartiality.
The Chinese government’s lawsuit is an aggressive move, but Senator Schmitt’s rhetoric also seems quite confrontational. Hopefully this can be resolved through proper legal channels without further inflaming geopolitical tensions.
This is a high-stakes lawsuit with significant political overtones. While the COVID-19 origins remain murky, I hope the courts can evaluate the evidence objectively and reach a fair conclusion.
This lawsuit highlights the political fault lines around the pandemic. Both sides appear to be taking hardline stances. I wonder if there’s room for more nuanced, fact-based dialogue to find common ground, or if this will just turn into political theater.
Lawsuits between nations over pandemic response are highly unusual. I’m curious to learn more about the legal arguments and potential precedents this case could set, beyond the political posturing.
China’s lawsuit targeting a US senator is an unusual escalation. While the COVID-19 origins remain murky, suing foreign officials over it sets a concerning precedent. I’m curious to see how this high-stakes case unfolds.
Interesting case, though the $50 billion lawsuit by China seems like a heavy-handed response. I wonder what the legal merits are on both sides. Should be an intriguing court battle to follow.