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

A federal judge handed Missouri a landmark victory on Friday, ruling in favor of the state in its $24 billion lawsuit against China’s Communist Party. The suit accused China of hoarding critical protective supplies during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the judgment is being hailed as a historic moment for accountability.

Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey didn’t hold back in his statement, calling it a "landmark victory for Missouri and the United States in the fight to hold China accountable for unleashing COVID-19 on the world." Bailey made it clear the state isn't just stopping at the judgment, saying, "We intend to collect every penny by seizing Chinese-owned assets, including Missouri farmland." Bold move, to say the least.

The awarded judgment of $24,488,825,457—a figure that’s almost dizzying—is reportedly six times larger than any previous judgment in Missouri's legal history. Judge Stephen Limbaugh, who presided over the case, ruled that Missouri provided sufficient evidence to establish the liability of the defendants, which included a lineup of Chinese state and local entities and organizations, such as the People’s Republic of China, the Wuhan Institute of Virology, and the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Originally filed five years ago by former Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt, the lawsuit accused China of obstructing the production, purchase, and export of vital medical equipment like PPE during the pandemic. While a lower court initially dismissed the suit, a court of appeals overturned that decision in January, allowing the case to proceed—but with a narrower focus on supply hoarding rather than accusations about the origins of COVID-19.

Bailey took to social media to deliver a not-so-subtle message to China, writing on X (formerly Twitter), "Hey China, You owe Missouri $24 BILLION. I just won a judgment in court. Pay up—or we start seizing assets and farmland." That tweet probably deserves a spot in the courtroom hall of fame for boldness.

While the judgment is undoubtedly a significant win for Missouri, the question remains: how exactly does a state go about collecting billions from an international superpower that didn’t even bother showing up in court? Bailey seems to be betting on asset seizures to make that happen, but whether this legal battle will translate to Missouri actually cashing those checks is a whole other story.