Republicans create ‘China Task Force’ to investigate ‘cover-up’ of coronavirus outbreak
REPUBLICANS are set to launch a “China Task Force” to investigate the “cover-up” of the coronavirus outbreak.
House Minority leader Kevin McCarthy will announce the formation of the Republican-led group on Thursday.
The team is made up of 15 Republican lawmakers representing 14 different committees of jurisdiction, the Washington Post reported.
The force is set to investigate China’s mishandling of the outbreak.
“All these issues existed prior to the virus and they just continue to grow in importance,” McCarthy told the Post.
“The rest of America and the rest of the world has woken up to this and now we’ve got to do something about it.”
The committee was supposed to include top leaders from both the Democrats and the Republicans.
However, after the Democrats bailed on the project in February, the Republicans decided to take on the project alone.
“Everything was a go . . . but then they backed out,” McCarthy said.
“I can’t explain why they wouldn’t do this [in February]. I can’t explain why after the virus they won’t do this. But we cannot wait anymore.”
The task force will hold meetings to ensure that members are on the same page.
The Post reported that they will cover China’s influence activities inside the United States, export control and foreign investment screening, efforts to take over international organizations, control over crucial supply chains, the organizational presence on American campuses, and economic aggression.
The group will also investigate the role that the Chinese government had in the spread of COVID-19.
“Not only do we have to hold the Chinese Communist Party accountable for their role in the spread of coronavirus, the United States must take bold action to address the CCP’s malign agenda and better compete with China on the world stage,” Rep Michael McCaul, the chairman of the force, told the Post.
“This is the number one issue not only today but for the future.”
Upon joining the team, Representative Jim Banks tweeted: “The China threat, both economically & militarily, is the greatest existential threat the USA faces today.”
In a statement, Congresswoman Elise Stefanik said: “The Communist Party of China intentionally withheld critical information on the spread of COVID-19 that could have saved thousands of lives.
“To this day, China continues to spread misinformation regarding this health crisis. The Communist Chinese Government must be held accountable.
“I appreciate Leader McCarthy naming me to the China Task Force and am looking forward to getting to work.”
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On Sunday, President Donald Trump claimed the coronavirus outbreak was the result of a “horrible mistake” in China.
During a virtual town hall, the president said: “Personally, I think they made a horrible mistake, and they didn’t want to admit it.
“We wanted to go in, but they didn’t want us there. They made a mistake, they tried to cover it, like a fire… They couldn’t put out the fire.”