Scott Calls for China's Removal from 'Pharmaceutical Supply Chains'

The tension between the United States and China continues to increase, and it has only been exacerbated through disagreements regarding COVID-19. A number of lawmakers have criticized the Communist Party of China, and Senator Tom Cotton (R) even penned legislation to no longer rely on China for medication. This week, as the United States and China, continue to argue over pharmaceutical concerns, Florida Senator Rick Scott (R) is echoing in Senator Cotton’s remarks by calling for China to be removed “from our pharmaceutical supply chains.”

In March of 2020, Sen. Cotton shared that “earlier this month, a Chinese Communist Party propaganda outlet insinuated that Beijing could cut off supplies of life-saving medicine to the United States at any time, dooming our country to ‘sink into the hell of a novel coronavirus pandemic.’” In response, Cotton argued that the United States should be more independent in terms of producing its own medicine for the country. Republicans supported the initiative, and one Republican that has also criticized the Communist Party of China is former Governor of Florida Rick Scott.

On Twitter, Cotton further commented on growing tension between both countries, adding that “The CCP has threatened to cut  off U.S. access to vital drugs in the midst of a pandemic caused by  its own failures.” He commented that “it’s time to pull U.S. supply chains for life-saving medicine out of China and make the CCP pay for contributing to this global emergency.”

In response to the call, Senator Scott voiced his support, expressing that “Communist China lied about COVID-19 & refuses to be a partner in solving the crisis.” As a result, Scott feels that “it can’t be relied on for critical supplies & medicine,” so “it’s time we remove Communist China from our pharmaceutical supply chains.”