Ted Cruz: China a 'Threat to National Security, Global Health'
Senator blast China for for role in pandemic
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Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas said China's role in the coronavirus pandemic should make the country accountable as the country faces more accusations they covered up the severity of the virus putting the world at risk.
Appearing on "The Story with Martha MacCallum," Cruz asserted the virus could've been contained as a "regional outbreak" if China acted quickly.
"You know, China has long been the most significant geopolitical threat the United States faces," Cruz said.
"And we've always viewed it as a human rights offense when they censor and silence free speech."
"We've now seen that it's not just a human rights threat, but it is also a threat to national security and global health when it ... comes to this Wuhan outbreak," he added.
"When you had brave physician whistleblowers blowing the whistle, the Chinese government came down on them," Cruz continued.
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"They silenced them," Cruz added.
"They did everything they could to keep it quiet. And had they acted promptly, there may well have been a possibility this could have been contained as a regional outbreak. Instead, it ... became a global pandemic and the lives lost -- many, many of those are directly at China's doorstep."
The senator said legislation was introduced to sanction officials in China who are "actively censoring and silencing public health information that endangers the lives of Americans and people around the globe."
Cruz echoed the U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who has frequently accused China of withholding valuable information on the coronavirus, and engaging in propaganda while putting the world at risk.
NEW REPORT: Trump admin believes coronavirus did originate in Wuhan lab and WHO helped China cover it up!
— Neon Nettle (@NeonNettle) April 16, 2020
READ MORE: https://t.co/vpXPhHOPnf
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Meanwhile, officials uncovered evidence the coronavirus originated in a Wuhan lab, and China's ruling Communist Party blamed wet markets for covering it up.
Officials revealed that the Chinese government blamed wet markets for deflecting blame from the lab and destroyed evidence of the experiments.
Cruz added that China must be held accountable for "covering it up and suppressing" important information after the pandemic subsides.
He also expressed a desire to reassess China's role in America's supply chain.
"Too much of our medical products and our pharmaceuticals are manufactured in China, and they threaten the lives of Americans cutting off vital medicines," Cruz said.
"We need to bring critical, critical infrastructure back to the United States of America."
