China considers retaliation for US coronavirus lawsuits, Global Times says

Tabloid report says Beijing is considering countermeasures against states and politicians seeking damages over pandemic

Academic calls for action that will cause ‘real pain’ rather than symbolic strike back

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China is considering its response to US moves to seek damages over the coronavirus pandemic. Photo: AP

Published: 3:00pm, 14 May 2020Updated: 10:58pm, 14 May 2020

Beijing is considering taking retaliatory action against specific American states and politicians seeking damages from China over the coronavirus pandemic, according to Chinese state media.

Anonymous sources quoted by hawkish tabloid Global Times on Thursday said punitive measures could be taken against individuals such as Missouri attorney general Eric Schmitt, who filed a lawsuit in April against the Chinese government and Chinese Communist Party for the “enormous death, suffering and economic losses they inflicted on the world”.

The report also singled out Missouri senator Josh Hawley, Arkansas senator Tom Cotton and Texas congressman Dan Crenshaw – all Republicans – for introducing legislation that would allow Americans to sue the Chinese government for damages caused by the disease.

Missouri attorney general Eric Schmitt is one of a number of US politicians singled out by Global Times. Photo: AP

“We must resolutely crack down on those politicians who, for no reason, undermine China-US ties for their own political benefits,” Yuan Zheng, a research fellow at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, was quoted as saying.

“For those who promote anti-China legislation, we need to find out what the business ties are between those officials or their families with China. We can’t just strike back symbolically, but impose countermeasures that could make them feel the pain.”