Missouri Wins $24 Billion Judgment Against China Over COVID-19 Pandemic

A U.S. federal court ruled that China is liable for misrepresenting COVID-19's spread and hoarding medical supplies, though China did not appear in court.

Missouri's lawsuit accused China of suppressing information about COVID-19's transmissibility and hoarding personal protective equipment (PPE) during the pandemic.
The judgment, issued by U.S. District Judge Stephen Limbaugh, orders China and its entities to pay $24.5 billion in damages to Missouri.
China did not appear in court to defend itself, leading to a default judgment against the Chinese government and affiliated institutions like the Wuhan Institute of Virology.
Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey stated plans to seize Chinese-owned assets, including farmland, to recover the awarded damages.
The ruling comes as debates over COVID-19's origins continue, with U.S. intelligence agencies recently favoring the theory of a lab-related origin.