Missouri is facing a new legal challenge from the People’s Republic of China as the state moves to enforce a $24 billion judgment against the Chinese government. The lawsuit, filed in the Intermediate People’s Court of Wuhan, alleges that Missouri’s actions have caused $50.5 billion in economic and reputational losses to China.
Legal Battle Escalates
The initial judgment was secured earlier this year by the Missouri Attorney General’s Office, citing the Chinese government’s role in unleashing and worsening the COVID-19 pandemic. Attorney General Catherine Hanaway stated, “I find it extremely telling that the Chinese blame our great state for ‘belittling the social evaluation’ of The Wuhan Institute of Virology. This lawsuit is a stalling tactic and tells me that we have been on the right side of this issue all along.”
China’s suit names the State of Missouri, represented by Governor Mike Kehoe, U.S. Senator Eric Schmitt, and the Missouri Attorney General (including former Attorney General Andrew Bailey, now Co-Deputy Director of the FBI) as defendants. The complaint claims Missouri’s legal efforts have negatively impacted the “soft power” of Wuhan and hindered the scientific progress of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Wuhan Institute of Virology.
The Chinese government is demanding public apologies in both American and Chinese media outlets, as well as $50.5 billion in compensation – equivalent to 356.4 billion Chinese yuan – plus legal fees and the potential for further claims. Senator Schmitt characterized the suit as a “$50 Billion lawfare campaign” and asserted, “China lied about the origins of COVID virus, they tried to cover it up, and they upended the world.”
Timeline of Events
In March 2025, the Missouri Attorney General’s Office secured what it calls the largest judgment in state history. Following a required waiting period, judgment service packets were submitted to the U.S. State Department in November 2025 for delivery to China. To date, China has not appeared in U.S. court to contest the original judgment.
Once diplomatic service of the judgment packets is confirmed, Missouri intends to seek certification from a federal district court to begin seizing Chinese-owned assets, including property and financial holdings.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the basis of Missouri’s original lawsuit against China?
Missouri sued China in 2020, alleging that the Chinese government caused and exacerbated the COVID-19 pandemic by thwarting the production, purchasing, import, and export of medical equipment, such as PPE.
What is China seeking in its countersuit?
China is demanding $50.5 billion in compensation, public apologies from the defendants in both American and Chinese media, and coverage of legal fees.
What are the next steps in the legal process?
Missouri will seek certification from a federal district court to begin seizing Chinese-owned assets once diplomatic service of the judgment packets is confirmed.
As this legal battle unfolds, it remains to be seen how these competing claims will be addressed and what the ultimate outcome will be for both Missouri and the People’s Republic of China.
