Missouri targeting Chinese assets over $24.5 billion judgment

Missouri's attorney general plans to seize Chinese assets in the U.S. to collect a $24.5 billion judgment from a lawsuit related to the COVID-19 pandemic. This follows a recent ruling that sided with Missouri's claims against China. China's government has rejected the U.S. court's authority, calling the lawsuit "absurd" and stating it will not pay the judgment. Experts express skepticism about Missouri's ability to enforce the ruling and seize assets outside the state. The lawsuit, initially dismissed in 2022, was revived on appeal, allowing Missouri to claim damages for alleged hoarding of protective equipment. The attorney general aims to identify Chinese-owned assets, including farmland, for potential seizure.