A U.S. senator faces a $50 billion lawsuit from China for daring to hold them accountable for COVID-19, will this brazen lawfare silence American critics forever?
Story Snapshot
- Wuhan, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and Wuhan Institute of Virology sue Missouri, Sen. Eric Schmitt, and others for $50 billion in alleged reputational harm.
- The suit retaliates against Missouri’s 2020 lawsuit blaming China for pandemic mismanagement and cover-ups.
- Schmitt declares he “won’t be apologizing,” framing it as proof he struck a nerve in Beijing.
- Chinese plaintiffs claim U.S. officials politicized COVID-19, slandered institutions, and caused economic losses.
- Mutual lawsuits highlight escalating U.S.-China tensions over pandemic origins and accountability.
China Launches $50 Billion Retaliatory Strike
Wuhan Intermediate People’s Court accepted the civil lawsuit from Wuhan’s municipal government, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and Wuhan Institute of Virology. They targeted Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe, Senator Eric Schmitt, Andrew Bailey, and others. Plaintiffs demand US$50 billion for reputational and economic damages. Missouri’s 2020 lawsuit accused China of suppressing COVID-19 information and hoarding PPE. This counteraction explicitly links to those claims.
Chinese entities position themselves as victims of “slander” and “stigmatization.” They argue Missouri officials manipulated virus origin-tracing for political gain. Facts from Missouri’s suit detail China’s early outbreak mishandling in Wuhan, where COVID-19 emerged. Conservative values affirm holding foreign powers accountable for global harms aligns with American sovereignty and common sense.
Missouri’s Original Stand Against China
Eric Schmitt, then Missouri Attorney General, filed the federal lawsuit in April 2020 in the Eastern District of Missouri. Defendants included China’s government, Communist Party, ministries, and Hubei Province. The complaint charged mismanagement, information suppression, and massive damages to Missouri residents. Foreign sovereign immunity blocked practical success, but the action delivered symbolic accountability.
Missouri secured a multi-billion-dollar default judgment in related litigation. Schmitt leveraged this in his 2022 Senate campaign, winning as a Republican tough on China. Chinese plaintiffs now cite these proceedings and public statements as causing their losses. This tit-for-tat reveals China’s pattern of using domestic courts for geopolitical signaling.
Sen Eric Schmitt says he ‘won’t be apologizing’ as China hits him with $50B lawsuit https://t.co/oEhMl1jmD7 #FoxNews
— Laura Marklin (@LauraMarklin) December 17, 2025
Schmitt Stands Firm Without Apology
Senator Schmitt appeared on Fox News’ “The Ingraham Angle” and dismissed the suit as baseless retaliation. He stated plainly, “I won’t be apologizing,” viewing it as confirmation his 2020 actions exposed Chinese wrongdoing. Schmitt positions the lawsuit as intimidation against U.S. officials critiquing Beijing. This response bolsters his profile among conservatives who prioritize national security.
Andrew Bailey, now FBI co-deputy director and former Missouri AG, faces similar accusations for defending the state’s stance. Governor Mike Kehoe represents Missouri officially. No U.S. parties recognize the Wuhan court’s jurisdiction. Enforceability remains impossible under American law, rendering the suit a propaganda tool.
Geopolitical Lawfare in U.S.-China Clash
This lawsuit fits China’s “anti-sanctions” legal strategy against foreign critics. Wuhan entities, central to lab-leak debates, seek judicial vindication. They claim Missouri’s rhetoric damaged international collaborations and funding. U.S. conservatives see through this: China’s opacity fueled the pandemic, costing American lives and trillions economically.
Short-term, Schmitt gains political capital; long-term, it normalizes cross-border lawfare. Mutual distrust deepens, chilling scientific ties. Missouri faces no real risk, but the episode warns of China’s hybrid tactics blending law and propaganda. Common sense demands vigilance against such overreach.
Sources:
Sen. Eric Schmitt sued by China for $50B: ‘I won’t be apologizing’
