The United States of America state, Missouri has approached the court to press charges against Chinese authority over what it described as deception and insufficient action to contain the coronavirus that has consumed too many lives.
These come as the first of its kind state lawsuit in a mist of calls from Congress to punish the Chinese authority as well as a campaign by President Trump to focus on Beijing’s role, amid criticism of his own handling of the crisis.
Missouri, a state lead by a Republican party, approached the Federal court seeking for unspecified amount as damages and an injunction to continuing action by china that are alleged to include hoarding of protective equipment.
The statement said; “The Chinese government lied to the world about the danger and contagious nature of COVID-19, silenced whistleblowers and did little to stop the spread of the disease,” Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt said.
“They must be held accountable for their actions,” he said.
Although, the lawsuit have a very slim chance of succeeding considering the US law under the principle of sovereign immunity, which forbids court action against a foreign government.
However, the Missouri addressed the issue by using the ruling communist party, arguing that is not formally an organ of the Chinese state.
While Citing it’s lost, the Missouri state pointed out that its authority would losses tens of millions of dollars in trying to contain the dreaded coronavirus.
The lawsuit accused Chinese authorities’ early suppression of news of the virus when it first broke out and act to prevent it.
It also accused the Chinese communist party of being in “knowing, wilful and in reckless disregard of the right of the state and its resident”.
The lawsuit also accused the Chinese authorities of deliberate ‘early suppression of news of the virus when it broke out in Wuhan, including of detention of whistleblowers.
Chinese initially claimed the virus does not transmit from human to human.
Despite Trump’s heavy criticism of China, his administration has been indifferent about efforts to take action against Beijing, mindful that the Asian power is a major source of masks and other medical supplies desperately needed by the United States.
Under its conservative leadership, Missouri has imposed fewer COVID-19 restrictions than most US states, including allowing businesses to remain open as long as they limit the number of people present and ensure space between them.
Missouri as of Tuesday had reported 189 COVID-19 deaths, half of them in St. Louis.
