A collective of five senators has written to President Biden, urging him to enforce a travel ban on China in response to a troubling surge in an unidentified respiratory illness within the communist nation.
The letter, composed last Friday by Senators Marco Rubio (R-Texas), J.D. Vance (R-Ohio), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), and Mike Braun (R-Ind.), insists that Biden promptly impose restrictions on travel between the United States and China until more information is gathered regarding the risks associated with the emerging illness.
China has witnessed a rise in unexplained cases of childhood pneumonia and other respiratory ailments. Citing China’s “long-standing history of concealing information during public health crises,” the lawmakers call for decisive action to safeguard the health of Americans and the economy.
Referring to the COVID-19 pandemic, the senators express concern about the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) concealment of truth and lack of transparency, which they argue deprived the United States of crucial insights into the disease and its origins.
Hence, the lawmakers advocate an immediate travel restriction between the United States and China until more is known about the risks posed by the new illness, emphasizing that such a ban could prevent potential fatalities, lockdowns, mandates, and future outbreaks.
Drawing on the success of former President Trump’s travel ban on China implemented on January 31, 2020, the senators view it as a precedent for effective action. Despite criticism of Trump’s decision as being motivated by ‘xenophobia,’ the lawmakers assert that history and common sense validate the wisdom of that decision.
The senators point out that China has reported an upswing in a mysterious illness, purportedly pneumonia caused by known pathogens, since mid-October. This ailment is deemed particularly hazardous for children and has strained hospitals in the northern part of the country.
The World Health Organization (WHO) states that it remains unclear whether the disease is a result of a general increase in respiratory infections or distinct incidents. Expressing concern based on historical patterns, the senators highlight the need for vigilance.
