Beijing’s Bullying

China’s rulers are pushing hard to get the rest of the world to stop asking questions about just how the coronavirus pandemic got started — even as Beijing relentlessly exploits the global disruption.

It’s again arresting pro-democracy protesters and independent lawmakers in Hong Kong — and threatening US politicians.

That’s right: The Global Times, a newspaper aligned with the Chinese Communist Party, on Thursday reported that Chinese officials are eyeing “punitive measures,” including sanctions, against critical American officeholders: “China won’t just strike back symbolically but will impose countermeasures that will make them feel pain.”

The story discusses “four GOP lawmakers” and “two US entities” while citing bills introduced by Sens. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) and Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) and Reps. Dan Crenshaw (R-Texas) and Chris Smith (R-NJ) that would let Americans sue China, as well as lawsuits brought by state Attorneys General Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.) and Lynn Fitch (R-Miss.) seeking recompense for deaths caused by the virus.

This, just weeks after Beijing cut off beef imports from Australia just because Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has called for an independent international investigation into the virus’ origins.

Oh, and Beijing is pushing to exclude Taiwan from next week’s World Health Organization conference unless the free island “admits” it belongs to the mainland regime.

Meanwhile, the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security plan to issue a warning to probe whether Chinese hackers and spies are trying to steal US COVID-19 vaccine and treatment research.

Bottom line: When the pandemic has passed, the rest of the world is going to have to reckon with the civilization-defying malice of the Chinese Communist Party.