Mast files bill to freeze U.S. debt payments to China

With reports continuing to be made regarding China’s mishandling of the coronavirus, which includes the country spreading misinformation regarding the cases of people stricken with the virus, lawmakers have shifted their sights on calling for China to be brought to justice for their role in the spreading of COVID-19, and pay up.

Reports have even suggested that the Chinese Communist Party was laying blame on the United States for introducing the Coronavirus in China. 

In the latest development of the strained relationship between the United States China, Florida Rep. Brian Mast (R) announced that he had introduced legislation that would hold China accountable, noting that it would empower the United States to withhold any payments on debts that are owed to China equal to the costs that the United States has incurred due to COVID-19, which includes trillions of dollars in spending that have been authorized by Congress.

In a statement, Rep. Mast stated that “China’s total lack of transparency and mishandling of the coronavirus outbreak has cost tens of thousands of lives, millions of jobs and left untold economic destruction.”

Mast added that “Congress must hold China accountable for their cover-up and force them to pay back the taxpayer dollars that have been spent as a result.”

This comes at a time when the Trump administration has called for an investigation into the World Health Organization for allegedly covering up for China. Likewise, President Trump has also halted funding for the World Health Organization while also criticizing China for its mishandling of the coronavirus.

In response, China pledged to provide $30 million in funding for the World Health Organization, and this has brought added scrutiny.

Congressional Democrats have opposed this decision, calling for funding to be reinstated for the World Health Organization and for the Trump administration to not penalize The WHO for its own mishandling of the Coronavirus in the United States.