Ending Chinese Lawfare Act

This bill prohibits U.S. courts from recognizing or enforcing judgments from China’s courts when those judgments were issued under Chinese Communist Party control and used to retaliate against protected U.S. speech, government actions, or constitutional rights. It establishes a legal standard for courts to determine if a Chinese judgment qualifies (e.g., lack of judicial independence, CCP involvement, or retaliation for First Amendment activities) and requires U.S. courts to reject such judgments. The bill also allows parties opposing enforcement to recover legal fees and creates new lawsuits for U.S. individuals or entities harmed by politically motivated Chinese court actions. It explicitly states U.S. courts are not required to enforce any foreign judgment, making this a minimum standard for refusal, not a broad ban.