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School of Law

Coronavirus Pandemic: Lawsuits against China 'blame game'

Professor Malik Dahlan speaks to CGTN about US states bringing legal action against China

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USA and China flags overlapping

With several US states bringing legal action against China, many wonder how certain lawsuits will turn out. Some legal experts say the lawsuits won't succeed due to pre-existing laws and sovereign immunity in US law. Malik Dahlan, Professor of International Law and Public Policy at Queen Mary University of London comments that under the US Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act 1976, it recognised the immunity of sovereign states, with two exceptions: commercial activities with sufficient US nexus and a territorial tort. Professor Dahlan says "the recent Covid-19 does not necessary fall within those two exceptions."

Watch the full interview on CGTN.

 

 

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