A woman wears a medical mask during a snowfall in Beijing, China, February 2, 2020. Artyom Ivanov | Tass | Getty Images

A growing chorus of voices around the world is calling for China to compensate for the damages incurred due to the global coronavirus pandemic. Just this week, Missouri's attorney general filed a lawsuit against the Chinese government over its handling of the outbreak, saying China's response led to devastating economic losses for the state. The coronavirus outbreak was first reported in the Chinese city of Wuhan late last year. It has since spread to over 180 countries and territories, killing more than 190,000 people around the world, data from Johns Hopkins University showed. The number of reported cases globally has exceeded 2.7 million. Missouri's lawsuit was filed in a federal court this week by state Attorney General Eric Schmitt, alleging negligence on China's part. The complaint said Missouri and its residents have lost possibly tens of billions of dollars, and it seeks cash compensation. "The Chinese government lied to the world about the danger and contagious nature of COVID-19, silenced whistleblowers, and did little to stop the spread of the disease," Schmitt, a Republican, said in a statement. "They must be held accountable for their actions." Other lawsuits have been filed in U.S. courts on behalf of business owners, including a class-action lawsuit in Florida seeking reparations from the Chinese government for coronavirus-related damages on behalf of thousands of people.

It is possible that – had accurate information have been provided at an early juncture – the infection would not have left China. Henry Jackson Society

China rejects those claims. The lawsuit from Missouri "has no factual or legal basis" and "it only invites ridicule," Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said Wednesday, according to an official transcript of a regular press briefing. Geng said the Chinese government "has been nothing but open, transparent and responsible" in informing the World Health Organization, relevant countries and the U.S. about the pandemic and related information. "Such (a) lawsuit is nothing short of frivolous litigation which defies the basic theory of the law," said Geng. International law experts have said that China is protected broadly under the U.S. legal doctrine of sovereign immunity. "Based on the principle of sovereign equality prescribed by international law, US courts have no jurisdiction over the sovereign actions taken by Chinese governments of all levels in response to the epidemic," said Geng.

'Negligence'

The lawsuit from Missouri was not the first call for compensation from Beijing — and it may not be the last. A British conservative think tank, the Henry Jackson Society, argued in a report in April that China is bound by international law to report crucial public health information in a timely, accurate and detailed manner. However, it "failed in its obligations to do this" through December and January in the early stages of the outbreak, the report said. "It is possible that — had accurate information have been provided at an early juncture — the infection would not have left China," the group said. "The Chinese government's negligence has cost the G7 at least £3.2 trillion ($4 trillion) — and the wider world a presently incalculable sum," the think tank said, referring to the Group of Seven countries.

State-backed media in China, which provides a reflection of the government's thinking, fought back on the claims for compensation. "Before asking China to cover the losses incurred by the COVID-19 pandemic, the UK should consider how much it owes China and the world for its colonial activity," reported the Global Times in early April citing Chinese social media users' response to the Henry Jackson report. The nationalist newspaper even said earlier this week that those blaming China are "selling their soul."

Violating international laws?