Overview
- Attorney General Catherine Hanaway said Missouri asked the U.S. State Department to formally notify China and help pursue assets with full or partial Chinese government ownership.
- Her office sent judgment-service packets through the federal court clerk for diplomatic service on multiple Chinese government entities, a step required before enforcement can begin.
- Missouri is compiling an inventory of real property, financial interests, and other holdings tied to the defendants and says it will not target assets owned by private Chinese individuals or companies.
- U.S. District Judge Stephen Limbaugh entered a default judgment in March after China did not defend, accepting $8.04 billion in damages, tripling the amount, and adding interest to reach roughly $24–25 billion.
- China has rejected U.S. jurisdiction and warned of retaliation, and legal experts say sovereign-immunity rules make collection uncertain and likely protracted.