A Wuhan court is hearing a defamation case brought by three Chinese institutions against Missouri and current or former Missouri attorneys general.

Plaintiffs:

Wuhan Municipal People's Government.Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV).Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS).

They reportedly seek 356.44 billion yuan (about US$53.5 billion), public apologies and reputational remedies.

Defendants include Missouri, US Senator Eric Schmitt (former Missouri attorney general), former Attorney General Andrew Bailey and current Attorney General Catherine Hanaway.

THE CCP CONNECTION

These are not private organisations. Wuhan's municipal government is part of China's state administration. WIV is an institute of CAS, China's national scientific institution.

CAS President Hou Jianguo also serves as Secretary of its Communist Party Leading Group. WIV has a Party Committee within its leadership structure.

This establishes institutional links to China's state and Party system. It does not prove that Hou Jianguo or Xi Jinping personally ordered the lawsuit.