Bill 118 H.Res. 9, titled "Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that China is responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic and must be held financially liable for $16,000,000,000,000," is a resolution introduced in the US Congress. The resolution asserts that China is responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic and calls for China to be held financially liable for $16 trillion in damages.
The resolution does not propose any specific actions or penalties against China, but rather expresses the opinion of the House of Representatives that China should be held accountable for the economic and human costs of the pandemic. It is important to note that resolutions like this one do not have the force of law and are primarily symbolic in nature.
Supporters of the resolution argue that China's handling of the initial outbreak of COVID-19, including its lack of transparency and cooperation with the international community, contributed to the spread of the virus and the resulting global pandemic. They believe that China should be held responsible for the economic and health consequences of the pandemic.
Critics of the resolution, on the other hand, argue that it is unrealistic and counterproductive to try to hold China financially liable for the pandemic. They point out that determining the exact amount of damages caused by the pandemic and attributing them solely to China would be extremely difficult, if not impossible. They also warn that such a resolution could further strain US-China relations and hinder international efforts to combat the pandemic.
Overall, Bill 118 H.Res. 9 is a symbolic expression of the House of Representatives' opinion on China's role in the COVID-19 pandemic and its call for accountability. It is unlikely to lead to any concrete actions against China, but it reflects the ongoing debate and tensions surrounding the origins and consequences of the pandemic.