US Court Orders China to Pay $24 Billion for Pandemic Deception

A federal court in Missouri has ordered the Chinese government to pay $24 billion in damages for concealing information about COVID-19 and hoarding personal protective equipment (PPE) during the early months of the pandemic. The lawsuit, initially filed in 2020 by then-Attorney General Eric Schmitt, accused China of obstructing the global response to the virus and causing significant economic harm to Missouri. Judge Stephen Limbaugh Jr. stated that China misled the world about the pandemic's severity and engaged in monopolistic actions that impeded the availability of PPE. Current Attorney General Andrew Bailey hailed the ruling as a landmark victory and plans to enforce the judgment by seizing Chinese assets, including farmland. In response, the Chinese Embassy rejected the ruling, claiming it lacks legal basis and warned of potential retaliatory measures. The case underscores ongoing tensions between the U.S. and China regarding accountability for the pandemic.