A Missouri judge has imposed a $24 billion penalty on China, ruling that the government is liable for its handling of the Covid-19 pandemic. The decision stems from a lawsuit filed in April 2020, which accused China of misleading the world about the pandemic’s severity and hoarding protective equipment, hindering the U.S. response.
The judge’s ruling comes after China failed to respond in court. Missouri officials have indicated their intention to enforce the judgment by seizing Chinese assets, including farmland, to recover the penalty.
The Chinese embassy in Washington has yet to comment on the ruling. This unprecedented legal action adds to ongoing tensions between the U.S. and China regarding the pandemic’s origins and global response.
