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| Reps. Ron Wright, R-Tex, and Chris Smith, R-NJ. |
By Park Si-soo
Two U.S. lawmakers are pushing for a law revision to make it possible for Americans and governments across the United States to sue the Chinese government for the coronavirus pandemic.
Republican Reps. Ron Wright of Texas and Chris Smith of New Jersey have introduced House Resolution 6524, according to reports. The bill is aimed at stripping China ― and any other country "which intentionally misleads" the World Health Organization (WHO) ― of sovereign immunity.
In a joint statement, the two politicians said lawsuits against China would hold that country "accountable for the deaths, pain and suffering ― as well as the economic crisis ― resulting from its intentional misrepresentations" to WHO, which let COVID-19 "spread viciously throughout the U.S. and around the globe."
Local reports said the bill, filed on April 17, is similar to the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act, which gave families of victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attack the ability to sue Saudi Arabia.
