Republican senators are calling on Democrat President Joe Biden to implement a travel ban on China amid the spike in a mystery respiratory illness that is spreading across the communist state.
A group of five Senate Republicans signed a Friday letter to Biden.
The following senators signed the letter:
- Marco Rubio (R-FL)
- JD Vance (R-OH)
- Rick Scott (R-FL)
- Tommy Tuberville (R-AL)
- Mike Braun (R-IN)
The GOP senators are calling for Biden to immediately restrict travel between the U.S. and China until more information is gathered about the dangers posed by the new illness.
In recent weeks, China has seen a sharp rise in unexplained childhood pneumonia cases and other respiratory illnesses.
Citing China’s “long history of lying about public health crises,” Republicans are calling for swift action to be taken to protect the health of Americans and the economy.
“During the COVID-19 pandemic, the CCP’s obfuscation of the truth, and lack of transparency, robbed the United States of vital knowledge about the disease and its origin,” the lawmakers wrote.
“That means we should immediately restrict travel between the United States and [China] until we know more about the dangers posed by this new illness.
“A ban on travel now could save our country from death, lockdowns, mandates, and further outbreaks later.”
The senators drew on the effectiveness of President Donald Trump’s travel ban on China as a model for such an action.
Trump’s ban was implemented on January 31, 2020, and has since been credited with slowing the spread of Covid, despite pushback from Democrats at the time.
“Many officials and commentators — including you — criticized his decision as being influenced by ‘xenophobia’,” the letter to Biden said.
“But history and common sense show his decision was the right one.”
The lawmakers wrote that China has reported an increase in a mystery illness since mid-October.
China claims the illness is pneumonia caused by known pathogens.
This illness reportedly is a special hazard for children and has overrun hospitals in the north of the country, they wrote.
The World Health Organization (WHO) says it is unclear if the disease is due to an overall increase in respiratory infections or separate events.
“If history is any indication, we have cause to be concerned,” the senators wrote.
Sens. JD Vance and Marco Rubio have penned a letter asking Joe Biden to suspend travel to China over an unknown respiratory illness that is reportedly causing pneumonia. pic.twitter.com/qUq1Ze4HOs
— Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) December 1, 2023
Biden’s White House has yet to issue a public response to the letter.
READ MORE: WHO Calls on China to Bring Back Lockdowns to Tackle Mystery Outbreak
