In Brief: ‘8-Pillar’ Plan to Hold China Accountable
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy explains practical actions to achieve some justice.
Mark Alexander wrote last year, that then-President Donald Trump should “send Xi Jinping the bill for the ChiCom Virus pandemic damages.
To that end, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy offers eight things that can be done, the first four of which he groups under "transparency,” and the second set of four he groups under “justice.”
Declassification of Intelligence: House Republicans will introduce legislation to require declassification of information related to the origins of COVID-19, including in any report that comes from President Biden’s recent request.
Prohibit Gain-of-Function Research in and With China: We must ensure the United States no longer funds any gain-of-function research conducted in or with China, or any individual with known ties to the [Chinese Communist Party].
Prohibition on National Institutes of Health (NIH) Funding to Malevolent Foreign Governments: Congress should prohibit NIH funding to grantees or subgrantees from doing research with irresponsible foreign governments or entities who are intent on harming the United States, its allies, or the American people, such as China, Russia, Iran, or North Korea.
WHO Overhaul and Counterintelligence Investigation: WHO Director-General Tedros [Adhanom Ghebreyesus] should step down from his post at the WHO; Taiwan should be granted observer status at the WHO; and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, in partnership with the U.S. Intelligence Community, should conduct a counterintelligence investigation into the U.S. medical research establishment to determine the extent to which the governments of China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea have infiltrated critical U.S. organizations.
Investigations and Utilizing Existing Authorities: President Biden and Congress must continue to investigate the origins of COVID-19.
Visa Restrictions and Sanctions: Congress should pass a new sanctions regime imposing economic sanctions, and visa and admissibility restrictions on those in China, associated with the CCP, WHO, or other international organizations who knowingly and willfully participated in the COVID-19 cover-up.
Waiving Chinese Sovereign Immunity: The families of those who have died from COVID-19 should be given the option to file suit against the Chinese government for damages incurred as a result of the reckless conduct of the CCP. Several Republican members, including Dan Crenshaw, Ann Wagner, and Brian Fitzpatrick, have introduced legislation allowing such lawsuits to go forward.
Relocation of the 24th Olympic Winter Games: Given the CCP’s active cover-up of COVID-19 and contribution to the 3.8 million deaths worldwide, China should not be rewarded by allowing Beijing to host the Winter Olympics in 2022.
Joe Biden certainly isn’t going to hold China accountable, but that doesn’t mean no one in Washington is willing to put forward a plan.
