Missouri Engages in Legal Dispute with China Regarding Pandemic Compensation
Missouri’s Attorney General, Catherine Hanaway, has announced that China is suing the state following its efforts to collect on a substantial court judgment of approximately $25 billion related to the COVID-19 pandemic. This legal battle has escalated, with China demanding a public apology and seeking compensation totaling $50.5 billion, in addition to legal fees and the right to pursue further claims.
In a recent news release, Hanaway characterized the lawsuit as a stalling tactic, asserting that it confirms Missouri’s position on the matter. “This lawsuit is a stalling tactic and tells me that we have been on the right side of this issue all along,” she stated.
The crux of the issue lies in a lawsuit filed by Missouri, which alleges that China hoarded personal protective equipment (PPE) during the initial phases of the pandemic, thereby causing harm to the state and its residents. Earlier this year, a federal judge ruled in favor of Missouri after China opted not to participate in the trial, labeling the lawsuit as “very absurd” when it was first filed in 2020. The judge accepted Missouri’s claims regarding damages, which were estimated to exceed $8 billion, and tripled the amount as permitted under federal law, adding interest until the judgment is satisfied.
In a significant move last month, Missouri intensified its efforts to collect the judgment by requesting the U.S. State Department to formally notify China of its intention to pursue assets owned wholly or partially by the Chinese government. This action underscores the state’s determination to hold China accountable for its alleged actions during the pandemic.
Liu Pengyu, a spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Washington, responded to the developments, stating that he was not familiar with the specifics of the case but described the earlier Missouri lawsuit as “a purely politically motivated maneuver.” He emphasized that China firmly opposes the lawsuit and reserves the right to take strong countermeasures.
China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has previously asserted that its actions during the pandemic fall outside U.S. jurisdiction and that it does not recognize the ruling made by the Missouri court. Legal experts have expressed skepticism regarding Missouri’s ability to collect on the judgment, citing federal laws that typically protect foreign nations from lawsuits in U.S. courts.
The trajectory of this case has been unusual. Initially, U.S. District Judge Stephen Limbaugh dismissed the lawsuit in 2022, ruling that Missouri could not sue China, its Communist Party, or several other government and scientific agencies. However, an appeals court allowed one aspect of the lawsuit to proceed, specifically the claim that China hoarded PPE, including respirator masks, medical gowns, and gloves.
The lawsuit was originally initiated by former Attorney General Eric Schmitt, a known ally of President Donald Trump, who later won a seat in the U.S. Senate. The case was subsequently taken over by Attorney General Andrew Bailey, another Trump supporter who recently resigned to join the FBI. Hanaway, a former U.S. attorney and Missouri House speaker, inherited the case upon her appointment as state attorney general by Republican Governor Mike Kehoe.
While the Associated Press has not yet obtained a copy of the complaint filed by China, it was referenced in Hanaway’s news release. The complaint accuses Missouri, along with Schmitt and Bailey, of “fabricating enormous disinformation, and spreading stigmatizing and discriminating slanders” that have negatively impacted China’s reputation.
Schmitt has publicly stated that he would wear the lawsuit “like a badge of honor,” accusing Chinese authorities of attempting to absolve themselves of any wrongdoing during the early days of the pandemic.
Copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Interested in Covid 19?
Get automatic alerts for this topic.
Missouri’s Attorney General, Catherine Hanaway, has announced that China is suing the state following its efforts to collect on a substantial court judgment of approximately $25 billion related to the COVID-19 pandemic. This legal battle has escalated, with China demanding a public apology and seeking compensation totaling $50.5 billion, in addition to legal fees and the right to pursue further claims.
In a recent news release, Hanaway characterized the lawsuit as a stalling tactic, asserting that it confirms Missouri’s position on the matter. “This lawsuit is a stalling tactic and tells me that we have been on the right side of this issue all along,” she stated.
The crux of the issue lies in a lawsuit filed by Missouri, which alleges that China hoarded personal protective equipment (PPE) during the initial phases of the pandemic, thereby causing harm to the state and its residents. Earlier this year, a federal judge ruled in favor of Missouri after China opted not to participate in the trial, labeling the lawsuit as “very absurd” when it was first filed in 2020. The judge accepted Missouri’s claims regarding damages, which were estimated to exceed $8 billion, and tripled the amount as permitted under federal law, adding interest until the judgment is satisfied.
In a significant move last month, Missouri intensified its efforts to collect the judgment by requesting the U.S. State Department to formally notify China of its intention to pursue assets owned wholly or partially by the Chinese government. This action underscores the state’s determination to hold China accountable for its alleged actions during the pandemic.
Liu Pengyu, a spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Washington, responded to the developments, stating that he was not familiar with the specifics of the case but described the earlier Missouri lawsuit as “a purely politically motivated maneuver.” He emphasized that China firmly opposes the lawsuit and reserves the right to take strong countermeasures.
China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has previously asserted that its actions during the pandemic fall outside U.S. jurisdiction and that it does not recognize the ruling made by the Missouri court. Legal experts have expressed skepticism regarding Missouri’s ability to collect on the judgment, citing federal laws that typically protect foreign nations from lawsuits in U.S. courts.
The trajectory of this case has been unusual. Initially, U.S. District Judge Stephen Limbaugh dismissed the lawsuit in 2022, ruling that Missouri could not sue China, its Communist Party, or several other government and scientific agencies. However, an appeals court allowed one aspect of the lawsuit to proceed, specifically the claim that China hoarded PPE, including respirator masks, medical gowns, and gloves.
The lawsuit was originally initiated by former Attorney General Eric Schmitt, a known ally of President Donald Trump, who later won a seat in the U.S. Senate. The case was subsequently taken over by Attorney General Andrew Bailey, another Trump supporter who recently resigned to join the FBI. Hanaway, a former U.S. attorney and Missouri House speaker, inherited the case upon her appointment as state attorney general by Republican Governor Mike Kehoe.
While the Associated Press has not yet obtained a copy of the complaint filed by China, it was referenced in Hanaway’s news release. The complaint accuses Missouri, along with Schmitt and Bailey, of “fabricating enormous disinformation, and spreading stigmatizing and discriminating slanders” that have negatively impacted China’s reputation.
Schmitt has publicly stated that he would wear the lawsuit “like a badge of honor,” accusing Chinese authorities of attempting to absolve themselves of any wrongdoing during the early days of the pandemic.
Copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Interested in Covid 19?
Get automatic alerts for this topic.
