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China-Japan-Koreas
China's Ultimatum for the US economy
2020-09-17
[ALMASDARNEWS] According to Xi Yunyang, Professor at the Shanghai University of Finance and Economics, China could be ready to dump the entire US debt in case of a military confrontation between both countries.
Then by all means let us avoid a military confrontation until we are completely disengaged economically.
"Under normal circumstances, China will gradually sell Treasuries and reduce its balance sheet to about $ 800 billion. But in the event of an extreme scenario, for example, a military conflict, China can sell the entire US national deb," he added in an interview with the Global Times.
Perhaps China should sell while the selling is good. If they dump the things they’ll take a huge loss, and the Chinese economy has too many problems to deliberately take a huge loss just when they need the funds to fight a war. That would cause them to lose the war faster than the approaching American missiles.
While this is an unofficial declaration, it is a threat for the United States and could plunch the world into recession.

The PRC used to be the largest holder of the US national debt, but recently shifted on second place behind Japan. Currently, China holds around $1 trillion in US bonds.

While the move would hurt China itself, it is made clear that this would only be a worst-case scenario.

China fears further sanctions imposed by the United States under the premise of violating human rights
One man's rights are another man's existential threat.
in Hong Kong and Xinjiang and ultimately worries about a possible disconnect from the global financial system.

While it is unclear what happens between both countries in the future, China eagerly awaits the upcoming November elections in the United States to prepare for whatever outcome.
Posted by:Fred

#6  But in the event of an extreme scenario, for example, a military conflict, China can sell the entire US national debt...

The presumption being there will be buyers for all that debt. Central banks will likely avoid it like the plague and for the stuff they do manage to get rid of, they'll take it in the shorts like Fred mentioned. This sounds like weak chest-thumping to me.
Posted by: Raj   2020-09-17 15:43  

#5   I suppose they could buy Switzerland,

The other problem is that no other financial market could absorb an investment of that size. Quantity has a quality, etc.
Posted by: trailing wife   2020-09-17 14:36  

#4  China's got the same problem every investor has right now: If you don't want to hold US gummint debt, where are you going to put the money? I suppose they could buy Switzerland, or take it all to Macau for a potentially spectacular return. Or they could ask Paul Krugman what he thinks, and then do the opposite.
Posted by: Matt   2020-09-17 11:36  

#3  Joe, Joe, he's our man!
Posted by: Bobby   2020-09-17 10:23  

#2  Would only hurt a little bit in the short term and would be very good for us in the long term.

Go ahead. Make our day.
Posted by: DarthVader   2020-09-17 08:45  

#1  Here is a $1 trillion bill in exchange. Don't spend it all in one place.
Posted by: Punky Poodle9392   2020-09-17 01:21  

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