The COVID-19 pandemic has sparked significant debate about China's role in its spread and the appropriate measures to hold the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) accountable. Various sources have provided insights into this complex issue, highlighting China's actions and the global repercussions.
Educational Impact
The impact of COVID-19 on education was profound and far-reaching. At the peak of the pandemic in 2020, more than 1.5 billion children were out of school globally. By 2022, over 616 million children continued to be affected by total or partial school closures. This disruption has had severe implications, particularly for children in lower-income and middle-income countries, where it is estimated that 70 percent of 10-year-olds were rendered functionally illiterate by February 2022—up from 57 percent before the pandemic. Children in high-income countries within the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) also experienced significant learning losses, with 25 percent of 15-year-old students being considered low performers in reading and math by 2022.
The pandemic's impact is especially severe in lower-income and middle-income countries, where the percentage of 10-year-olds who are functionally illiterate rose from 57% before the pandemic to an estimated 70% by February 2022. This significant increase underscores the extensive learning losses experienced during this period. In high-income countries, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) reported a marked decline in reading and math test scores among 15-year-olds, with 25% now considered low performers. These statistics reveal the pandemic's widespread effect on educational outcomes and highlight the urgent need for targeted interventions to mitigate these losses and support students in recovering their education
Economic Measures: Another avenue explored is imposing economic measures, such as sanctions or demanding restitution for the economic damages caused by the pandemic. Estimates suggest that the economic impact of COVID-19 on the U.S. alone could be as high as $4 trillion. However, the feasibility of securing restitution from China remains complex due to legal and diplomatic challenges.
Non-Legal Remedies: There are also discussions on non-legal remedies. These include increasing diplomatic pressure, enhancing international coalitions to address China's actions, and implementing economic sanctions. The importance of a coordinated international response is highlighted to ensure that China faces consequences for its actions while maintaining global stability.
The Heritage Foundation has extensively analyzed the CCP's role in the COVID-19 pandemic. Their report emphasizes that the Chinese government suppressed critical information during the early stages of the outbreak, significantly contributing to the global spread of the virus. Dr. Li Wenliang, one of the whistleblowers, tried to warn the world about the virus but was silenced by Chinese authorities. His death from COVID-19 underscored the CCP's efforts to conceal the outbreak's severity.
The Heritage Foundation suggests multiple strategies for holding China accountable. These include leveraging international legal frameworks, such as the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act (FSIA), to pursue legal action against China. Missouri's lawsuit against the Chinese government is a notable example, where the state accused China of hoarding personal protective equipment (PPE) and causing economic harm. Although initially dismissed due to sovereign immunity, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit revived parts of the case, allowing it to proceed under certain exceptions to the FSIA.
In conclusion, holding China accountable for its role in the COVID-19 pandemic involves a multifaceted approach, combining legal actions, economic measures, and international cooperation. The goal is not only to seek restitution but also to enhance global health governance and prevent similar incidents in the future.
For further details, you can explore the full articles and reports from the Heritage Foundation:
- Holding China Accountable for Its Role in the Most Catastrophic Pandemic of Our Time: COVID-19
- How to Hold China Accountable for COVID-19
- Missouri’s Chance To Hold China Accountable for COVID
Sources:
- United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), “COVID-19 Scale of Education Loss ‘Nearly Insurmountable’, Warns UNICEF,” January 23, 2022. UNICEF Press Release (accessed June 28, 2024).
- World Bank; UNESCO Institute for Statistics; UNICEF; U.K. Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO); U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID); and Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, The State of Global Learning Poverty: 2022 Update, June 23, 2022. World Bank Report (accessed June 28, 2024).
