Key figures from both the Republican and Democratic parties in intelligence and politics are now on a mission to make China pay for the economic mess caused by its purported lack of transparency during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is estimated that this lack of transparency has resulted in a massive $18 trillion loss for the U.S. economy.
The Nonpartisan Commission on China and COVID-19, convened by the conservative Heritage Foundation, includes prominent former Trump administration officials alongside Democratic voices such as former Clinton administration National Security Council director and North Dakota ex-senator Heidi Heitkamp.
In its recent report, the commission calls on Congress to establish a bipartisan U.S. National COVID-19 Commission and a Reparations/Compensation Task Force. It recommends revising the Foreign Sovereign Immunity Act to enable civil claims against China in U.S. courts, proposing payment via deductions from China’s debt interests or foreign aid funds.
Additionally, the commission urges an audit of U.S.-funded biomedical research in China, suggesting potential funding cuts unless projects are proven to serve public interests with minimal risk. They propose oversight through a new federal commission.
House Speaker Mike Johnson highlighted their recommendation to pass the Biosecure Act during a speech at the Hudson Institute. The Biosecure Act aims to reduce reliance on Chinese state-linked companies in supply chains.
The commission stresses the need for a comprehensive investigation into COVID-19’s origins, urging diplomatic pressure on China. They advocate for economic sanctions on individuals and entities involved in any cover-up, likening the pandemic’s impact to a transformative event necessitating legal and commercial adjustments.
Critically, the report has faced scrutiny for its selective use of statistics, potentially exaggerating China’s liability. It attributes significant economic harm to policy decisions in other countries, including excess deaths from delayed non-COVID medical treatments and the contentious issue of “long COVID.”
Rather than relying on the United Nations figure of 7 million COVID-related deaths, the report cites The Economist’s estimate of 28 million excess deaths based on a machine-learning model. It also claims long COVID has cost the U.S. $6 trillion, asserting children are particularly vulnerable, though misquoting its sources.
The commission’s members include Robert Kadlec, a key figure from the Trump administration’s health and human services team responsible for Operation Warp Speed. The Heritage Foundation declined to comment on their statistical methodologies.
Former Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe, now leading the commission, recently highlighted China’s responsibility for the global impact of COVID-19 at a Heritage Foundation event, accusing the Chinese Communist Party of exacerbating the pandemic’s effects.
The commission has been in discussions with lawmakers regarding proposed revisions to the FSIA similar to those that enable U.S. accountability for terrorist financing. They expect legislative advancement in the near future and encourage global acceptance of their suggestions.
Despite differing theories on COVID-19’s origins, the commission underscores that its focus remains on China’s response rather than on scientific debates. To bolster its claims, it draws on open-source data and personal government insights, including intelligence.
Commission members criticize China for its lack of transparency and allege deliberate suppression of information, including early virus samples. They argue that China’s behavior violates international health protocols, hindering global efforts to combat pandemics.
In a rare critique of U.S. policy, former CDC Director Robert Redfield cited errors in initial pandemic characterization. He highlighted COVID-19’s unique transmissibility, distinguishing it from previous outbreaks like SARS while warning of future pandemic risks.
Redfield and others believe that China’s handling of early virus data and its research practices require international scrutiny and reform. They advocate for stringent oversight to prevent future global health crises.
The commission’s recommendations seek to recalibrate U.S.-China relations amid ongoing global health and economic challenges, emphasizing accountability and transparency as foundational to future pandemic preparedness.