[Washington Insider] The United States cannot rely on China in a crisis. That is one of the clear lessons learned from the global pandemic.The Chinese Communist Party lied about the virus, and people lost their lives and their livelihoods. China knew the risk, and the regime covered it up.
By the time the coronavirus hit America, China had hoarded the protective equipment we sorely needed. The Chinese government wouldn’t even allow U.S. scientists access to the country to help the world respond.
This is the frightening reality we face.
It is imperative for Congress to take all necessary steps to make sure our country is no longer dependent on China, especially not for critical medical supplies.
As a senator and as a doctor, I am committed to seeing that our nurses and doctors have our full support to care for patients on the front lines. This is not just a matter of public health; it is also a matter of national security. Our fighters in medical scrubs are every bit as important as our brave men and women in military uniform.
Clearly, the medical supply chain was ill-equipped to handle this epidemic. Surgical masks, gloves, and hand sanitizer quickly became scarce commodities. This situation cannot be allowed to repeat itself.