Overview
- Attorney General Catherine Hanaway said her office sent FSIA judgment-service packets to the federal court clerk for diplomatic service on Chinese government entities.
- Missouri asked the U.S. State Department to notify Beijing and will seek federal court certification after service is confirmed to begin pursuing asset seizures.
- Targets will be assets owned by the Chinese government or by entities in which it has an interest, not property of Chinese individuals or private firms such as WH Group’s Smithfield operations.
- China rejects the ruling and warned it would retaliate if assets are seized, calling the lawsuit malicious and refusing to accept the default judgment.
- A federal judge entered the default judgment in March after no defense by China, tripling more than $8 billion in damages and adding 3.91% interest, though legal experts question whether collection is feasible under sovereign immunity.