China has a problem and it's not the Wuhan flu.

[Big RR]

A cold war? More viruses? I think China is ahead in the department.

[Bicycle Bill]

Running away and leaving the other cars "in the dust" is not good, unless the car is going somewhere useful, and Trump is more like the loud muffler, making a lot of noise and going nowhere.

That's pretty much the definition of NASCAR.  Drive in circles and get nowhere, but go fast and make lots of noise doing it.

-"BB"-

[dales]

NASCAR is for people with a low IQ.

[Darren]

The panda is pissed.

"China is extremely dissatisfied with the abuse of litigation by the US against China over the COVID-19 epidemic, and is considering punitive countermeasures against US individuals, entities and state officials, such as Missouri's attorney general Eric Schmitt, who filed a lawsuit against China, seeking compensation for the coronavirus pandemic, sources close to the matter told the Global Times exclusively. At least four US Congress members, including Josh Hawley and Tom Cotton, and two entities will be put on China's sanctions list, analysts said.

China won't just strike back symbolically, but will impose countermeasures that will make them feel the pain, analysts said.

Some US lawmakers and state governors as well as attorneys who are also GOP hawks have filed lawsuits against China, alleging that the Chinese government mishandled the epidemic and it caused severe economic consequences in the US.

At least six lawsuits have been filed against China in US federal courts, while some lawmakers have also introduced bills to make it easier to sue China despite legal hurdles and no realistic possibility for US states to achieve their goal. Missouri became the first state in the US to sue the Chinese government. Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt filed a lawsuit on April 21, claiming that China did little to stop the spread of the virus and "lied to the world about the danger and contagious nature of COVID-19," claiming that Missouri residents may have suffered tens of billions of dollars in economic damage."

https://www.globaltimes.cn/content/1188309.shtml

[Joe Guy]

Joe says:

and Jojo says "Yawn....."

[Darren]

"In Thursday's interview, Trump also said the administration is looking "very strongly" into delisting Chinese companies in New York if they fail to follow accounting rules.

But he then expressed reservations, right after calling it "pretty amazing" that Chinese companies like Alibaba Group Holding have such access to U.S. capital without having to report their earnings "the way an American company does," as the interviewer put it.

"Let's say we do that, right? So what are they gonna do? They're gonna move their listing to London or someplace else."

The idea of forcing Chinese public companies off the main American exchanges made headlines last September as an option considered by the White House, when trade tensions were at a high point, though the Treasury Department said it had no such plans.

Noise around such a move as part of a financial decoupling with China grew after a bipartisan group of American lawmakers introduced legislation last summer that would eventually delist Chinese companies out of compliance with U.S. accounting and oversight regulations.

A recent accounting scandal involved $310 million in fabricated sales at China's Starbucks challenger, Nasdaq-listed Luckin Coffee, renewed these discussions.

While an immediate delisting ultimatum is unlikely, as it would send shock waves across financial markets, the proposed legislation "could gain momentum over the summer as the Trump administration looks for ways to hold China accountable for the coronavirus outbreak," wrote Michael Hirson, practice head for China and Northeast Asia at New York-based consulting firm Eurasia Group,"

[MajGenl.Meade]

Hey Joe, what's a ho hum?

[RayThom]

Hey Joe, what's a ho hum?

I'm not sure, but if it's what I'm thinking, they usually cost $5 in Darren's trailer camp.

[Joe Guy]

Hey Joe, what's a ho hum?

A vibrato tune while they're doing a job.

[MajGenl.Meade]

Thanks to JoJo (obviously not a response from his human). But is Slow Jo Ho Hum and if so, is he dancing to someone else's tune?

[Darren]

"Coalition of 62 countries backs Scott Morrison's call for an independent inquiry into the COVID-19 pandemic - after China threatened to destroy Australia's economy in retribution for the probe push

Huge global vote of support for Australia's effort to have an independent probe
62 nations have joined inquiry push - but it falls short of mentioning China

Vote comes as China threatens to hit Australian barley exports with tariffs

US wants resolution tougher: to mention Wuhan, China, where outbreak began

194 nations to vote on resolution at the World Health Assembly on Tuesday

If it passes, independent investigation team will form to report back next year
Inquiry would investigate the actions of the WHO and its timeline of events

By Alison Bevege For Daily Mail Australia

Published: 12:06 EDT, 17 May 2020 | Updated: 19:28 EDT, 17 May 2020"

[RayThom]

"Coalition of 62 countries backs Scott Morrison's call for an independent inquiry into the COVID-19 pandemic - after China threatened to destroy Australia's economy in retribution for the probe push... If it passes, independent investigation team will form to report back next year...

Operative word -- "If"

[Darren]

"Luckin Coffee Inc. LK, -18.40% said Tuesday that it received on May 15 a delisting notice from Nasdaq. The China-based coffee company said the reasons given for the notice were for the "public interest concerns" given the "fabricated" transactions disclosed by the company in its annual report, and because of the company's past failures in publicly disclosing material information."

[RayThom]

"Luckin Coffee Inc. LK, -18.40% said Tuesday that it received on May 15 a delisting notice from Nasdaq. The China-based coffee company said the reasons given for the notice were for the "public interest concerns" given the "fabricated" transactions disclosed by the company in its annual report, and because of the company's past failures in publicly disclosing material information."

I hope this never happens again.

[Darren]

"Luckin Coffee Inc. LK, -18.40% said Tuesday that it received on May 15 a delisting notice from Nasdaq. The China-based coffee company said the reasons given for the notice were for the "public interest concerns" given the "fabricated" transactions disclosed by the company in its annual report, and because of the company's past failures in publicly disclosing material information."

I hope this never happens again.

Don't be surprised if lots of Chinese companies on our stock exchanges get delisted.

[RayThom]

Don't be surprised if lots of Chinese companies on our stock exchanges get delisted.

RED FLAG

[Darren]

Japanese Navy additions

"The newest ships to enter service are the two Asahi-class (25DD) ASW destroyers that were built by MHI and were commissioned in 2018 and 2019. The pair will accompany the four Akizuki-class (19DD) destroyers that entered service from 2012 to 2014, and a further class of two destroyers – referred to as 33DD – will follow. The new 33DD ships will be based on the Asahi-class design, and a procurement program is expected to be approved in 2021, with the first ship slated to be delivered by 2024. Construction is to take place at KHI, but a contract has yet to be signed.

In the anti-air warfare domain, the JMSDF is set to receive two Maya-class (27DD) destroyers that will be equipped with the latest Aegis combat management system baseline, cooperative engagement capability (CEC) and the full range of Standard Missile-2, SM-3 and SM-6 missiles and sensors that will provide an enhanced ballistic missile defense (BMD) capability and integration with the U.S. Navy compared to the earlier Atago-class destroyers. The Mayas are being built by Japan Marine United (JMU), with the first vessel due to enter service in March 2020 and the second following a year later.

The JMSDF is also recapitalizing its frigate fleet with its 30DX program to build eight ships that will replace the aging Asagiri-class and Abukuma-class light destroyers. Two ships are under construction at MHI and Mitusi Engineering and Shipbuilding (MES), with the first ship to be delivered by MHI in 2022. A contract for a second batch of two ships is expected that will be delivered from 2023."

[MajGenl.Meade]

[RayThom]

Oh, those wily Japanese.

Darren, was there more to your "cut and paste" job?

I need much more than this to understand what you're trying to say and/or prove.

[Darren]

"The U.S. Senate passed legislation on Wednesday that could ban many Chinese companies from listing shares on U.S. exchanges or raising money from American investors without adhering to Washington’s regulatory and audit standards.

The bill, sponsored by Louisiana Republican Sen. John Kennedy, would require companies to certify that “they are not owned or controlled by a foreign government.” Alibaba, the e-commerce giant based in China, saw its U.S.-listed shares fall more than 2% on the news.

Though the law could be applied to any foreign company that seeks access to U.S. capital, lawmakers say the move to strengthen disclosure requirements is aimed principally at Beijing. "