China has filed a lawsuit in a court in Wuhan against the US state of Missouri and several American officials, accusing them of harming China’s economic and reputational interests through litigation linked to the Covid-19 pandemic.
According to documents released by Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway, the lawsuit was filed in a court in Wuhan by Chinese scientific and state institutions. Those named as defendants include the State of Missouri, Governor Mike Kehoe, US Senator Eric Schmitt, and former Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey.
The complaint argues that Missouri’s legal actions and public statements constituted “vexatious litigation” and defamation, causing significant economic losses and damaging China’s sovereignty and development interests. Beijing is seeking $50.5 billion in compensation and legal costs, and is also demanding public apologies from the defendants in major US and Chinese media outlets.
The lawsuit comes as Missouri moves to enforce a $24 billion default judgment issued earlier this year by a federal court in Missouri. The state filed a lawsuit in 2020 alleging that China concealed information about Covid-19 and interfered with the global supply of personal protective equipment during the early months of the pandemic. Chinese entities did not appear in the proceedings.
Missouri officials said they intend to pursue Chinese state-owned assets to collect the judgment. Beijing has rejected the ruling, calling it illegitimate and politically motivated, and has warned of retaliation if Chinese assets are seized.
China has denied allegations that Covid-19 originated in a laboratory in Wuhan and that it deliberately concealed information about the outbreak. The authorities maintain that the country acted transparently and responsibly and have pointed to international scientific debates that remain unresolved over the virus’ origins.
Debate over the origins of Covid-19 has continued internationally since the virus was first detected in Wuhan in 2019. Some US officials and lawmakers have said a lab incident cannot be ruled out; however, a number of scientists and international bodies say the available evidence has not conclusively determined whether the virus emerged naturally or through a lab-related event.