Lawsuits demanding China’s compensation for coronavirus damages totally absurd, experts say
BEIJING - Some foreign officials’ efforts to sue China for causing global damages in the COVID-19 pandemic are totally absurd and aim to cover up their own missteps, experts and observers have said. Those calling for China to “be held responsible” include attorney generals of the US states of Missouri and Mississippi, who in April filed lawsuits against China and demanded compensation from it for the global losses caused by COVID-19. Greg Cusack, a former member of the Iowa House of Representatives, told Xinhua that the US politicians’ actions are “a smokescreen designed ... to keep the American people in a fog, to distort the truth, and to always deny accountability or responsibility for themselves.” The United States, now the epicenter of the pandemic worldwide, has confirmed over 1 million COVID-19 cases in just some 100 days after it reported its first case on Jan. 21.
Takakage Fujita, director general of a Japanese civil group dedicated to upholding and developing the Murayama Statement, said it is the negligence of Washington that has made both the US caseload and death toll of COVID-19 the highest in the world. Buck-passing is a trick frequently used by some US politicians, he said, adding that shifting the blame to China and others serves their own interest to score points in this year’s presidential election. The political analyst spoke highly of China’s strong leadership and effective prevention and control measures taken in the fight against the virus, saying China has also offered anti-epidemic experience and medical supplies to other countries combating the virus, which is of great significance.
Zheng Yongnian, a professor with the East Asian Institute at the National University of Singapore, said the virus knows no borders, and there are many viruses in countries such as the United States and African nations, which is not the ‘original sin’ of these countries, Zheng said. The allegation that China should compensate is extremely absurd, he said, noting that the politicians attempt to muddy the waters in order to seek benefits, deflect blame or destroy China’s relations with some countries, due to their assumption that China wants to challenge their geopolitical influence at the regional level.
(Xinhua)