China’s state-run media targeting is messing with domestic American politics. They are attacking congressional Republicans. Now, if the Democrats are honestly concerned about election interference; where’s the outrage?
Chinese interference in U.S. elections?
Heard any outrage in the media? Thursday China came out against GOP House members. The issue ostensibly is their stance against China’s government. The House GOP members also condemned China’s actions surrounding the pandemic.
The article was on the Global Times. This is a branch of the Communist Party of China’s (CPC’s) People’s Daily. It says China is “extremely dissatisfied with the abuse of litigation” by U.S. leadership. Further it, “and is considering punitive countermeasures against U.S. individuals, entities and state officials such as Missouri’s Attorney General Eric Schmitt.” China’s Making It Personal
China versus Missouri
Schmitt gave a statement to Fox News last month. The AG of Missouri filed a lawsuit against China on behalf of the state. Missouri’s position is the impact of the virus has led to thousands of Missourians being infected, killed and economically devastated.
Schmitt wrote, “… In Missouri, the impact of the virus is very real — thousands have been infected and many have died, families have been separated from dying loved ones, small businesses are shuttering their doors, and those living paycheck to paycheck are struggling to put food on their table…”
Missouri officials explain they wish to extract a large financial judgment from China. The state is looking to officially hold China’s government accountable for its alleged actions. They also want to shine a light on China’s lack of transparency.
China against Hawley and Cotton
The Times article also claims that GOP Sens. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., and Tom Cotton R-Ark., along with two other Republican members of Congress, will be added to China’s sanctions list for their hardline political stances. China’s Making It Personal.
Hawley’s rhetoric against the Chinese government dates back to long before the coronavirus outbreak. In an interview with Fox News last year about the National Basketball Association (NBA) kowtowing to China, the former state attorney general accused Beijing of using high-pressure tactics to bend people to its will.
Josh Hawley says, “This is how Beijing plays ball. They tighten the screws… Now they want to censor Americans. The thing about the NBA is, they’re trying to tell Americans what we can and cannot say. My word to the NBA is, don’t become part of the Chinese Communist Party’s propaganda arm.”
Virus response versus personal attack
He also introduced legislation last month entitled the Justice for Victims of COVID-19 Act, which would allow U.S. citizens affected by the coronavirus to sue the CPC directly. CHINA REFUSES TO ALLOW INTERNATIONAL CORONAVIRUS INVESTIGATORS UNTIL ‘FINAL VICTORY’ OVER OUTBREAK … Sen. Hawley: Waive Beijing’s immunity, give people the right to sue Video
Cotton introduced similar legislation alongside Rep. Dan Crenshaw, R-Texas., last month that would allow Americans to sue the communist country in federal court, by amending the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act.
Cotton said, “…By silencing doctors and journalists who tried to warn the world about the coronavirus, the Chinese Communist Party allowed the virus to spread quickly around the globe. Their decision to cover up the virus led to thousands of needless deaths and untold economic harm. It’s only appropriate that we hold the Chinese government accountable for the damage it has caused…”
China response
The Global Times’ story continually made veiled threats towards U.S. lawmakers by citing analysts who promised that “China won’t just strike back symbolically, but will impose countermeasures that will make them feel the pain.” China’s Making It Personal.
It then credited sources as saying: “Republicans who have been groundlessly accusing China and inflaming the ‘holding China accountable’ political farce will face severe consequences.” The article also noted the possible negative effects that a strained relationship with China might have on the U.S., specifically with regard to trade and the upcoming November elections.
Scott weighs in
Sen. Rick Scott of Florida who was also cited in the story for teaming up with Hawley on legislation that banned all federal employees from using TikTok on government devices, spoke with Fox News for an exclusive interview last week. He said he plans to hold the World Health Organization (WHO) and “Communist China” accountable for their role in the current pandemic, as the Senate continues to investigate the matter.
“We have failed to call out China for who they are — call out these international organizations for who they are, and you see Democrats out there trying to defend the WHO. It’s the craziest thing in the world,” he said.
Scott added: “The biggest thing we can do is stop buying [China’s] stuff. They steal our jobs, they steal our technology and now they’ve intentionally caused a problem that’s killing American jobs, killing Americans and Europeans and people all over the world. So I think the biggest thing we can do is make sure Americans stop buying their products. And it’s a twofer because then we help build our own economy up again by bringing manufacturing back here.”
The last word goes to China
The Global Times piece quotes a spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, Zhao Lijian. Lijian said during a press conference that the U.S. is attempting to use China as a scapegoat to mask its own failures. The story also threatened Missouri companies that have foreign investments in China with “severe consequences” in response to the lawsuit. China’s Making It Personal