An American court found China responsible for hoarding protective equipment related to Covid-19. The Beijing government was ordered to pay approximately $24 billion in compensation.

According to The New York Times, the lawsuit filed by Missouri against the Chinese government in 2020 has concluded.

The court decision reported that the Chinese government was held accountable for “hoarding” protective equipment related to “Covid-19,” resulting in a penalty of around $24 billion. Judge Stephen N. Limbaugh Jr. stated, “China not only misled the world about the scope and dangers of Covid-19 but also engaged in monopolistic actions regarding protective equipment.” Limbaugh Jr. argued that China’s actions hindered the initial response to the virus in the US and made it impossible for healthcare workers to access necessary equipment. Spokesperson Liu Pengyu from the Chinese Embassy in Washington noted that China does not recognize the ruling. State authorities indicated that the penalty would be recovered by “seizing” Chinese assets, though the timing and conditions for this are still unclear. While foreign governments can be sued in the US, the conditions under which these lawsuits can proceed are limited by the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act. The accusations of China “hiding” information related to “Covid-19” were not included in the case file initially, as a result.

“THEY DENIED THE OUTBREAK”
In 2020, the Missouri Attorney General’s Office filed a lawsuit against the Chinese government and the Chinese Communist Party for allegedly “withholding information during the outbreak, arresting whistleblowers, and denying the contagious nature of the outbreak.” The indictment stated that China’s actions resulted in loss of life and significant economic problems in the State of Missouri. It was argued that “the Chinese government lied to the world about the threat and contagious nature of Covid-19 and did almost nothing to stop the spread of the disease. The Chinese government must be held accountable for these actions.”