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Small Chinese Company Tells Goldman To Take A Hike, Refuses To Pay $80 Million In Derivative Losses

Tyler Durden's picture




It appears that even after thoroughly dominating the US legislative, judicial and executive branches, the long tentacles of the squid have been no better than the Mongolian hordes at overcoming the Chinese Wall (which is ironic seeking how easy it is to ignore the same construct internally between the firm's prop and flow traders...and yes, we will be posting our response to Goldman shortly, we have not forgotten). In the meantime, half a world away, a small Chinese power generator, Shenzhen Nanshan Power, is blatantly refusing to honor contracts with Goldman Subsidiary J. Aron for $80 million in derivative losses, and it appears that China itself has decided to stand behind the small company.

Reuters reports:


Shenzhen Nanshan Power (000037.SZ) (200037.SZ) said in a
statement that it received several notices from J. Aron &
Company, a trading subsidiary of Goldman Sachs (GS.N), for at
least $79.96 million as compensation for terminating oil option
contracts.

"We will not accept the demand by J. Aron for all the
losses and related interests," said Nanshan, in line with the
stance it took last December.

"We will try our best to negotiate with J. Aron and resolve
the dispute peacefully...but the possibility of using a lawsuit
can not be ruled out when talks fail," it added.

"J. Aron told us in one notice that if we do not pay the
money, they will reserve the right to launch a lawsuit and will
not send us any further notice."

The State Assets Supervision and Administration Commission
said in September that it would back state-owned companies in
any legal action against the foreign banks that sold them oil
derivatives, which resulted in losses when oil prices dived
late last year. [ID:nPEK14474]

A Beijing-based Goldman Sachs corporate communication
official declined to comment.

Not sure what Hank Paulson's former firm would comment: alas the Chinese communist party still has to be filled with Goldman alumni. That being said, this is precisely the track that Goldman has been focusing on for the past few years. At this point, the firm realizes all too well that dominating power politics in China in the near futures is far more critical than complete control over D.C., as there is little the world's most important company can do domestically in the context of taxpayer capital transfer without a full fledged revolution.

h/t Sean




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Tue, 12/29/2009 - 13:01 | Link to Comment Dr. Richard Head
Dr. Richard Head's picture

Perhaps Goldman simply countered this loss by purchasing loads of Fannie and Freedie during the week of December 21 right before Congress gave the blank Xmas check to Fannie and Freddie? 

God sees all you know.

Tue, 12/29/2009 - 13:03 | Link to Comment bugs_
bugs_'s picture

If you don't honor your gambling losses, people won't gamble with you anymore.

Tue, 12/29/2009 - 13:19 | Link to Comment Ned Zeppelin
Ned Zeppelin's picture

In a legitimate casino or game, of course.  But if GS is selling, you are in a three card monte street game that is wholly rigged.  You have the right to walk if the other guy is a thief and is trying to pick your pocket.  The Chinese already figured that out, and announced that in September. GS just figures it will push until it meets resistance, then give up in a huff. Of course, only after the Federal Reserve and/or Treasury reimburses GS for its loss. 

Tue, 12/29/2009 - 20:10 | Link to Comment gmrpeabody
gmrpeabody's picture

+100

Tue, 12/29/2009 - 20:26 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Tue, 12/29/2009 - 20:31 | Link to Comment Hephasteus
Hephasteus's picture

Forget making them whole. Borg de borg de borg them like a swedish chef.

Tue, 12/29/2009 - 13:24 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Tue, 12/29/2009 - 13:44 | Link to Comment Steak
Steak's picture

Its blissfully satisfying to see this story.  Goldman is so entrenched here that in the example you provide, were Goldman the gambler and the US taxpayer the bookie, the gambler can stick the bookie with mountains of losses and the bookie will keep fronting money.

However China is too big and important for Goldman to do anything but whatever the Chinese demand.  So the shoe is on the other foot there.  China can stiff Goldman to the moon, lay on extra taxes, demand virgin sacrifices, and whatnot.  Goldman will comply because they HAVE to be in China.

It just shows how far down we've slipped.  The good ol US of A invented "no...fuck YOU" in all its forms, but it seems this is yet another thing we started and the Chinese now do better.

Tue, 12/29/2009 - 14:45 | Link to Comment Careless Whisper
Careless Whisper's picture

If a contract is based on fraud it is not enforceable. Just wondering when this would enter into the arena of a crime? Anyone?

Let's remember that GoldmanSachs is a hedge fund.

Thu, 12/31/2009 - 12:50 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Tue, 12/29/2009 - 17:06 | Link to Comment KevinB
KevinB's picture

It just shows how far down we've slipped.

Yep, it's a day or two early, but years from now, we might pick New Year's 2010 as the date that China surpassed the US as the most powerful country in the world.

Tue, 12/29/2009 - 22:55 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Tue, 12/29/2009 - 15:32 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Tue, 12/29/2009 - 18:48 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Wed, 12/30/2009 - 00:25 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Wed, 12/30/2009 - 04:38 | Link to Comment bokapita
bokapita's picture

In which case the world would be a greatly better place.

Wed, 12/30/2009 - 06:01 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Wed, 12/30/2009 - 08:24 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Fri, 01/01/2010 - 06:22 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Tue, 12/29/2009 - 13:07 | Link to Comment Sqworl
Sqworl's picture

UK citizen execution in China today should send a strong message to the rest of the world..just saying...

Tue, 12/29/2009 - 14:39 | Link to Comment chinaguy
chinaguy's picture

Try getting caught smuggling nine pounds of Herion into any Asia country & see how you end up. Execution might be a blessing

Tue, 12/29/2009 - 13:26 | Link to Comment PolishHammer
PolishHammer's picture

the message is that the UK is finished, they are a completely insignificant little country, with a glorious imperial past.  China dont give a shit.

Tue, 12/29/2009 - 13:35 | Link to Comment order6102
order6102's picture

+555... same true to US of A... China don't give a shit. FREE TIBET! MOTHER FUUUCKERS!

Tue, 12/29/2009 - 13:43 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Tue, 12/29/2009 - 20:34 | Link to Comment Hephasteus
Hephasteus's picture

People who use drugs to control deserve NO leniancy whatsoever. There is no defense. Doesn't matter if your crazy, stupid, regretful anything. You get caught smuggling highly addictive drugs you should be put to sleep.

Tue, 12/29/2009 - 22:51 | Link to Comment delacroix
delacroix's picture

who's gonna come down on the cia afghan heroin operation?

Thu, 12/31/2009 - 11:13 | Link to Comment Hephasteus
Hephasteus's picture

LOL someone junked the entire comment section.

I will. Offer to sell me heroin. See what happens.

BLAM BLAM BLAM.

Tue, 12/29/2009 - 23:05 | Link to Comment ED
ED's picture

Lordy lordy. What aint addictive these days? Gambling (stocks), oil, free money, fast food, faster women, fastest vid-games, commenting on blogs?

The guy was executed because he could be. Others are too big to fail.

Tue, 12/29/2009 - 15:29 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Tue, 12/29/2009 - 23:58 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Wed, 12/30/2009 - 13:00 | Link to Comment PolishHammer
PolishHammer's picture

No, I dont think it's for publicity.  How could this be any good for UK government to be losing face this way.  It was pathetic really and the chinese got Gordon Brown humiliated again.

Tue, 12/29/2009 - 16:13 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Tue, 12/29/2009 - 18:51 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Wed, 12/30/2009 - 00:34 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Tue, 12/29/2009 - 14:00 | Link to Comment Ripped Chunk
Ripped Chunk's picture

Because of 4k grams of smack?  What happens if you are caught chewing gum on line...............

 

Oh yes, agreed, UK done

Tue, 12/29/2009 - 14:41 | Link to Comment chinaguy
chinaguy's picture

No bro, 4,030 grams of heroin - 8.9 pounds

Tue, 12/29/2009 - 14:50 | Link to Comment Ripped Chunk
Ripped Chunk's picture

What I said, 4 k grams (as in 4,000) of smack. 

The rest of us need to party you know. And putting someone to death for drug smuggling is pretty stone age.

Tue, 12/29/2009 - 14:56 | Link to Comment Internet Tough Guy
Internet Tough Guy's picture

How many people will 8 pounds of heroin kill? Selling that to kids is pretty stone age.

Tue, 12/29/2009 - 15:25 | Link to Comment Steak
Steak's picture

I think the Chinese prosecutor said it was enough to kill over 50K people

Wed, 12/30/2009 - 13:26 | Link to Comment Ripped Chunk
Ripped Chunk's picture

Who says kids are the only one's buying it.

You obviously support the "war on drugs"

Another giant pissing away of taxpayer dollars.

(By the way, they are showing "Reefer Madness" on IFC lately. You would probably want to watch and take notes)

 

Tue, 12/29/2009 - 15:07 | Link to Comment chinaguy
chinaguy's picture

Ever lived in SE Asia? You & Toto might wake up & realize you aren't in Kansas anymore.

Tue, 12/29/2009 - 16:31 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Wed, 12/30/2009 - 00:09 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Mon, 01/04/2010 - 22:27 | Link to Comment Missing_Link
Missing_Link's picture

Dude.  America violates international law here and there as well.  I say this as a conservative and a patriot, not to pick on the US.

As for that quote about the death of millions, that was Josef Stalin.  Are you REALLY going to compare the 1 billion present-day Chinese to  ...  the single most murderous dictator of all time (yes, bloodier than Hitler)  ...  who happened to be RUSSIAN?

LOGIC FAIL!

Tue, 12/29/2009 - 16:26 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Wed, 12/30/2009 - 13:29 | Link to Comment Ripped Chunk
Ripped Chunk's picture

Ahh yes! Newt.  One of our greatest congressional leaders.

All these guys have watche "Traffic" and the like way too many times.

 

Fri, 01/01/2010 - 18:49 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Tue, 12/29/2009 - 14:01 | Link to Comment percolator
percolator's picture

I just wish China would execute bankers rather than a drug smugglers.

Tue, 12/29/2009 - 14:48 | Link to Comment chinaguy
chinaguy's picture

China does execute bankers. White collar crime in china is often resolved by execution. None of this 6 months of "country club" jails and then onto the lecture circuit.  Michael Milken and Henry Blodget would both have been executed if they'd tried that nonsense in China (barring proper connections that is LOL)

 

 

Tue, 12/29/2009 - 14:51 | Link to Comment Ripped Chunk
Ripped Chunk's picture

Miken, now there is a humanitarian!  How long does he have to get even for before he will be satisfied? 

Tue, 12/29/2009 - 15:56 | Link to Comment Sqworl
Sqworl's picture

They save the white collar criminals for organ harvest...Healthy liver to highest bidder...Ironic!..lol

Sat, 01/02/2010 - 04:47 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Mon, 01/04/2010 - 22:29 | Link to Comment Missing_Link
Missing_Link's picture

> China does execute bankers.

Do you accept immigrants?

Please, teach me your ways.

Tue, 12/29/2009 - 15:03 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Tue, 12/29/2009 - 15:14 | Link to Comment El Hosel
El Hosel's picture

!!!!!! Here here!

Tue, 12/29/2009 - 15:32 | Link to Comment Steak
Steak's picture

Another area where morally at least China is miles ahead of the USA, corruption is an executable offense there.  If politicians in the US think the death penalty is such a great deterrent for poor people, surely it would work equally well as a deterrent for elected officials.

Tue, 12/29/2009 - 15:53 | Link to Comment Mad Max
Mad Max's picture

And yet, China clearly has far more corruption pervading its government at all levels than we do here (well, at least outside of the Northeast and DC).

Tue, 12/29/2009 - 16:54 | Link to Comment Steak
Steak's picture

To wit, could any among us declare in an unqualified way that China is more corrupt than the USA?

Tue, 12/29/2009 - 20:17 | Link to Comment gmrpeabody
gmrpeabody's picture

+10

Tue, 12/29/2009 - 23:24 | Link to Comment Mad Max
Mad Max's picture

Transparency International says they are far worse than the US:

http://www.transparency.org/policy_research/surveys_indices/cpi/2009

Although ZH is constantly, and appropriately, discussing corruption in the financial system and certain high levels of government, most parts of the US have very little corruption at the state and local level.  In much of the US, you would be crazy to think about bribing a police officer, which is just standard business in much of the world.

Wed, 12/30/2009 - 12:29 | Link to Comment gmrpeabody
gmrpeabody's picture

I agree with you about the local level, but they may soon mimmic their big brothers of Washington. They have noticed that greed and corruption is working for them.

Wed, 12/30/2009 - 18:05 | Link to Comment seventree
seventree's picture

That's retail, grass-roots corruption and true it is rare these days.

But buying a candidate with unlimited funding to a sympathetic "issue-oriented" PAC -- or threatening to do the same for his opponent -- is a fact of political life these days. If this is corruption, it is also a requirement for holding public office.

Wed, 12/30/2009 - 19:57 | Link to Comment Ripped Chunk
Ripped Chunk's picture

You need to visit New Jersey

Tue, 12/29/2009 - 16:09 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Tue, 12/29/2009 - 17:31 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Wed, 12/30/2009 - 08:51 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Mon, 01/04/2010 - 22:31 | Link to Comment Missing_Link
Missing_Link's picture

Damn right.  Makes me want to move there.

Wed, 12/30/2009 - 02:55 | Link to Comment youngandhealthy
youngandhealthy's picture

Well it tells us (westerners) of another form of corporate governance (that we are not used to). You will be held accountable for your actions with a bullet. Probably a very efficient way of getting everyone to stick to the rules.

The Chinese are applying this principle to the financial industry as well.

Wed, 12/30/2009 - 08:56 | Link to Comment blindfaith
blindfaith's picture

"UK citizen execution in China today should send a strong message to the rest of the world..just saying..."

Hummmm, you mean like if the Godman managers in China had been shot instead, would we have heard a peek from anyone about 'clemency'? Well, maybe Geithner would have had a hard time keeping still, but the rest of us would have been cheering YES!.

Wed, 12/30/2009 - 10:08 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Tue, 12/29/2009 - 13:09 | Link to Comment Mad Max
Mad Max's picture

Decisions, decisions.  Side with the US entity that has a legitimate contractual claim, but has been alleged to have manipulated the oil markets for its own benefit?  Or the foreign entity that is clearly breaking its contract, but may have good reason.

I suppose it will all be irrelevant, anyway, when some "Al Kai-duh" type from Shenzhen tries unsuccessfully to blow up a US airliner, and China denies that "Al Kai-duh" is operating there, and we have to stage a massive invasion "to eliminate the terrorists."  Did I get the script right?

Tue, 12/29/2009 - 13:32 | Link to Comment Cognitive Dissonance
Cognitive Dissonance's picture

Spot on. It's almost like there's a master plan somewhere that you're reading from. Old tricks are still the best tricks, aren't they?

Tue, 12/29/2009 - 13:35 | Link to Comment Shameful
Shameful's picture

Shhh!  Not so loud, the sheep might hear you!  But really no, USA in a war with China is bad hmm'kay.  If/when the US wants to lash out at China it will be to try to cut off it's energy supply, which is oddly enough coming from central Asia, right around Afghanistan.  So maybe a "terrorist" from one of the other Central Asia nations, but unlikely to be China.

It's a foreign entity they can break a contract and face the repercussions, which might be nothing at all.  GS knew that going in, should have been priced into the contract.  After all can they really threaten to use the US military to bludgeon every nation that does not accept being scammed?

Tue, 12/29/2009 - 15:00 | Link to Comment Mad Max
Mad Max's picture

If I were writing these contracts now I would get 100% collateral up front.  Silly me.

This would be a great time for oil to just mysteriously rise in price, while so much glut is owned by western hedge funds.

And who is flagging 1/4 of the good posts as junk?  Someone's kindergartner get on their account?

Wed, 12/30/2009 - 02:12 | Link to Comment sethstorm
sethstorm's picture

Why yes our nation can, should and (if things get bad) will.  But it doesn't have to be at Goldman Sachs's request. 

Not everyone is enamored by the despotics that keep going on in that part of the world. 

Tue, 12/29/2009 - 17:21 | Link to Comment KevinB
KevinB's picture

I suppose it will all be irrelevant, anyway, when some "Al Kai-duh" type from Shenzhen tries unsuccessfully to blow up a US airliner, and China denies that "Al Kai-duh" is operating there, and we have to stage a massive invasion "to eliminate the terrorists."

Sorry, dude. My wife is Chinese. I once asked her what it was like knowing that 1/4 of the world's people are Chinese.

"Well," she replied "We know we'll never lose a war of numbers."

Tue, 12/29/2009 - 19:25 | Link to Comment Rainman
Rainman's picture

+1 for sure. Exactly what Ho and the North VietNam Regulars said in 1967. And they were absolutely right.

Now let's move on to Afghanistan.

Tue, 12/29/2009 - 23:27 | Link to Comment Mad Max
Mad Max's picture

So, why would the US play a war of numbers anyway?  Sheer numbers became largerly irrelevant with the introduction of the Maxim Gun.  You might be aware that there have been some unpleasant developments in military weapons since that time.

In any event, I'm not saying that the US will actually invade China, only that the geopolitics could get both interesting and silly.

Wed, 12/30/2009 - 09:11 | Link to Comment blindfaith
blindfaith's picture

Well said! And, lets not forget that MOST, and I mean MOST of the bits and pieces of our MILITARY hardware is now MADE in China. Thanks Raytheon, Level 3, Lockhead, and the rest of you patriots...NO thank you Uncle Sam for for allowing this to happen other wise we might be paying $1,000 per toilet seat instead of a mear $650.00 per. The 'game' has been in play since the end of WW11 to make sure the USA never wins another war by the military/industrial complex , there is to much money in it and all this new terror as well. Got shorts anyone? Bet Goldman does on tomorrows "news"..

Tue, 12/29/2009 - 13:09 | Link to Comment Tahoe
Tahoe's picture

I am wondering if this is not an indication of the extent to which :froeign" interests will scoff and the "legalities" and expectations of these "legal" entities when so much of the problem we have is a direct function of the loss of trust and confidence in the system .... another excellent post.

Tue, 12/29/2009 - 13:14 | Link to Comment Ned Zeppelin
Ned Zeppelin's picture

Let's recap: the State Assets guys said in September, "No dice, GS, if you come a-calling on those bullshot derivatives you sold us" and now they are saying that they were serious and meant what they said.  The lack of GS plants in the Chinese government is definitely something Lloyd is going to have to work on.  Of course, in China, they just take out traitors and shoot them, which no doubt has had a chilling effect on ongoing recruitment efforts.  This business of risk management via surreptitious regulatory capture and control, aka "God's Work," just never ends, it seems. 

Gee, I wonder if the Chinese meant it when they said "no way" recently to the notion of doubling their US Treasuries purchases.  Maybe these commies mean what they say. Will wonders never cease?

Tue, 12/29/2009 - 13:36 | Link to Comment Objective Soul
Objective Soul's picture

I wonder if the crippling of the global economy through the CDS garbage foisted upon the world was  part of a Geopolitical plan to cripple/stunt/co-opt the Western led partnership which accelerated the growth of China towards it's goal of being a superpower.

 

Tue, 12/29/2009 - 14:21 | Link to Comment cougar_w
cougar_w's picture

Probably not a plan, no. But that's an interesting thought.

More likely a "hey look what else we caugh in the net" moment. Bouncing the hot money out of China and EM and into UST would be a windfall and greedily harvested.

cougar

Mon, 01/04/2010 - 22:36 | Link to Comment Missing_Link
Missing_Link's picture

No.  If anything, the opposite.  Despite the drop in exports, China has been hurt much less than other nations by this.  Seen the Chinese stock market lately.

Tue, 12/29/2009 - 13:17 | Link to Comment Giovanni Zucchetti
Giovanni Zucchetti's picture

Heads we win; tails we rescind.

Tue, 12/29/2009 - 13:27 | Link to Comment waterdog
waterdog's picture

GS sent Obama and Timmy over there this year to get the money or else. China took the "or else" part of the deal, packed both their butts with toxic exports and sent them home.

 

Tue, 12/29/2009 - 13:28 | Link to Comment Cognitive Dissonance
Cognitive Dissonance's picture

Now where is all that talk about Chinese companies walking away from their "moral" obligations?

Oh, sorry, only wage slaves have a moral obligation to pay their bills.

Tue, 12/29/2009 - 18:52 | Link to Comment perchprism
perchprism's picture

 

To an extent this decision amounts to a strategic default by China.  There will be repercussions.  Very interesting.

Tue, 12/29/2009 - 13:29 | Link to Comment Gubbmint Cheese
Gubbmint Cheese's picture

Goldman will eat these Chinese losses.. and then find itself eating MORE chinese losses an hour from now....

 

Tue, 12/29/2009 - 18:20 | Link to Comment KevinB
KevinB's picture

And then it will get a massive MSG headache..

Tue, 12/29/2009 - 13:29 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Tue, 12/29/2009 - 15:17 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Tue, 12/29/2009 - 17:27 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Tue, 12/29/2009 - 13:30 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Tue, 12/29/2009 - 13:35 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Tue, 12/29/2009 - 13:36 | Link to Comment Cursive
Cursive's picture

You see, this is the moral hazard playing out.  There is no honor among thieves.  GS has had its turn at the trough.  It has profited from the fraudulent web of CDS contracts.  Uncle Sugar won't be able to help it here.  Contracts will be repudiated.  More fortunes will be lost and the global economic unwind will accelerate.  Good luck to all.

Tue, 12/29/2009 - 14:46 | Link to Comment DaveyJones
DaveyJones's picture

+100

Tue, 12/29/2009 - 22:26 | Link to Comment dnarby
dnarby's picture

I love the smell of moral hazard in the morning.  It smells like...

Deflation.

Tue, 12/29/2009 - 13:38 | Link to Comment trav777
trav777's picture

China thinks they're above the law, above basically everything.

Right now they are behaving as if they run the world and really are the "Middle Kingdom."  The Party leadership has been infected with yesman bullshit about how great they are.

Everybody let them play the developing nation game while it was profitable, but it wasn't Chinese ingenuity that built China nor was it a Chinese currency ponzi (yuan was and is pegged) nor Chinese "capital."

Like how it wasn't the Arabs that drilled up all that oil.  We need to tell China to pay up on the IP they steal, unpeg their stupid currency, cut the mercantilist predatory bullshit, and pay their contracts or fucking else.  Let's see who else they have to peg their stupid people's currency to.

Tue, 12/29/2009 - 13:44 | Link to Comment Internet Tough Guy
Internet Tough Guy's picture

Or else what? We won't borrow any more money from them?

Tue, 12/29/2009 - 13:57 | Link to Comment order6102
order6102's picture

double post

Tue, 12/29/2009 - 13:56 | Link to Comment order6102
order6102's picture

nah... or else we default... This what we should do. DEFAULT. its United States of America... i.e. "united" part can default. We let federal government with president with Federal Reserve happy go under. Let them default, let Union collapse. Its useless with its debt... Let States print money, as per our constitution (they can mint gold and silver coin). And we see what chinese can do, with all this 2trln of United States Federal Reserve Notes... and United States Treas... Last time i checked State of Georgia did not own any money to Chinese and never will... 

Tue, 12/29/2009 - 14:37 | Link to Comment Shameful
Shameful's picture

All for this, but our leadership in the Fed Gov is 100% against it.  But they have not been for the American people since at least 1913.

Tue, 12/29/2009 - 16:10 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Tue, 12/29/2009 - 16:39 | Link to Comment Mad Max
Mad Max's picture

China has already just about stopped buying our debt.  The flip side is that if China isn't financing us, why should the US care what they think?  We could be in a lukewarm economic/cold war pretty shortly.  Don't be surprised if one of our ships gets attacked by China somewhere close to their maritime border - and which side it was will be the main point of dispute.

Tue, 12/29/2009 - 16:55 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Thu, 12/31/2009 - 16:34 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Wed, 12/30/2009 - 00:20 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Tue, 12/29/2009 - 18:00 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Tue, 12/29/2009 - 18:05 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Tue, 12/29/2009 - 20:29 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Tue, 12/29/2009 - 22:30 | Link to Comment dnarby
dnarby's picture

Sounds like the states could start using gold and silver to settle debts between themselves.

Hmm...

Wed, 12/30/2009 - 04:35 | Link to Comment order6102
order6102's picture

YANKS! RTFM (or rather C) ..."make any Thing but gold and silver Coin a Tender in Payment of Debts; " I.e. states have rights to MAKE FUUCKING GOLD AND SILVER COINTS! this what i said, did i? (they can mint gold and silver coints)... ok ok, i did not mean PRINT...

Thu, 12/31/2009 - 22:31 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Tue, 12/29/2009 - 21:38 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Tue, 12/29/2009 - 14:09 | Link to Comment Objective Soul
Objective Soul's picture

I didn't borrow from them. Did you ?

Their funding of Federal government largess, spending and expansion worked against my interests.

I did lose a good paying job to them though.

 

Tue, 12/29/2009 - 15:15 | Link to Comment trav777
trav777's picture

without our borrowing, they have nobody to sell to!

the accounts balances HAVE to normalize.

The dollar is a gigantic circle-jerk basically.  They have to recycle just like we have to borrow just like they have to lend and peg.

The Chinese are not the boss in this scheme; they just think they are.

Thu, 12/31/2009 - 16:35 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Tue, 12/29/2009 - 14:57 | Link to Comment Mad Max
Mad Max's picture

Last I checked, governments were above the law... that is perhaps the key feature that makes them governments rather than corporations or fraternal societies.

Nonetheless, China has its own danger of collapse from economic stagnation and civil unrest.

Tue, 12/29/2009 - 15:11 | Link to Comment Shameful
Shameful's picture

Totally agree.

I'm no expert in China but anyone can see that have civil unrest issues.  Not talked about much but it's there, look at the riots they have.  The CP will have a rough time of it unless they can find jobs for all those workers, and at the same time keep prices stable so as not to cause food riots.  I happen think China as a nation has a lot of potential but there is loads of downside just waiting to happen too.

Tue, 12/29/2009 - 15:23 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Wed, 12/30/2009 - 01:07 | Link to Comment hbjork1
hbjork1's picture

#176974

Ditto on the Obana's treatment of secured GM bond holders.  The unions didn't deserve preferred treatment.

Took a job with DDC after Penske took it over.  Union boys sleeping on fork lifts in dark corners people stealing parts for resale.  He got the Unions interest through a program of retraining and promotion to more inportant jobs.  Daimler bought it in 2000 for gradual converson to Daimler Diesel.  Today (a friend in quality data acqusition reports) the union guys in more important work (i.e. measuring parts for quality standards have found out how to save the data for a good sample part so that it can be applied to every sample's serial number.

Faking it? Yes, but if our financial leadership in DC is allowed to "fake it" why shouldn't the average working guy be allowed to "fake it"? 

The unions did not deserve the preferred treatment that they got.  The other employees were workers to.

 

.

 

Tue, 12/29/2009 - 13:38 | Link to Comment digalert
digalert's picture

It's time for TTT Geithner to get serious and tell them he'll give them a US taxpayer funded grant to cover their losses.

Tue, 12/29/2009 - 13:39 | Link to Comment order6102
order6102's picture

China shows not so little teeth.. Moment when all Western World shut up in face of extermination of nations by Chinese bastards, future of western "free" world was sealed... its over. Chinese are coming and western world doesn't stand a chance. But they have to take M60 from my cold hands... FREE TIBET!

Tue, 12/29/2009 - 14:29 | Link to Comment cougar_w
cougar_w's picture

Sadly, this is true. The West led with their wallets and not their principles. Karma is happy to balance the books on whatever level we choose, and we chose wealth.

Tue, 12/29/2009 - 14:57 | Link to Comment Mad Max
Mad Max's picture

If you're lucky enough to have an M60... well, you're lucky.  But if you really picture Red Dawn, I hope you have something that can take out incoming mortar rounds.

Tue, 12/29/2009 - 13:45 | Link to Comment Problem Is
Problem Is's picture

I am sure AIG will payout Goldman's loses 100% on the dollar... Timmay says so.

Tue, 12/29/2009 - 13:59 | Link to Comment carbonmutant
carbonmutant's picture

Well if AIG doesn't the US taxpayer will since the Squid can write the losses off on their 2009 taxes.

No need to waste money on litigation.

Tue, 12/29/2009 - 16:29 | Link to Comment Problem Is
Problem Is's picture

Doesn't AIG pay and then send us the taxpayer the bill?

I thought Timmay said so?

Tue, 12/29/2009 - 13:49 | Link to Comment sethstorm
sethstorm's picture

Can Goldman Sachs(given their ties to the government) ask for an 'accident' with these individuals?

Use their corruption against them and then smile at the news.

Tue, 12/29/2009 - 13:53 | Link to Comment Seal
Seal's picture

I’d be totally interested to see what exposure the Chinese have to shorts in the silver market.

Tue, 12/29/2009 - 13:55 | Link to Comment phaesed
phaesed's picture

Interesting.

This will be some good theatre, slapping Goldman in the face isn't exactly the best way to help the stock market. But then again the Chinese refusal to pay off derivatives story broke out awhile ago.

Let's see how wide the grip of Blankfein's iron fist truly extends.

Tue, 12/29/2009 - 14:34 | Link to Comment cougar_w
cougar_w's picture

O I C

Turn off the trading bots for three days, and by the end of the week Obama has another "diplomatic mission" on a plane for China, and proposed trade tariffs on imports of Chinese sneakers.

We need to come up with a name for this kind of warfare.

cougar

Tue, 12/29/2009 - 15:40 | Link to Comment El Hosel
El Hosel's picture

Maybe China is going to "call out" the US on all the intervention in the markets?  They don't like the way the game is played anymore so they take their ball and go home. Sooner or later somebody gets pissed and flips over the checkerboard.

Tue, 12/29/2009 - 13:57 | Link to Comment Objective Soul
Objective Soul's picture

The World Governace crew wants China onboard.

It whispers to China join us and you will get alot of buisness building wind-mills and solar grids.

China says she has waited patiently. She wants to be the next super-power not part of the Global Governance.

Is/Was the game rigged for this outcome the whole time ? Perhaps a series of plots/sub-plots head fakes and double crosses?

Tue, 12/29/2009 - 15:00 | Link to Comment cougar_w
cougar_w's picture

So what motivates the Chinese authorities more: 1) fear of their own disaffected masses facing unemployment and another generation of digging irrigation projects by hand, or 2) missing the best shot at world domination since the Kangxi emperor?

I don't think anyone can know, and it is tempting to say "well they fear both" but I bet they are more worried about #1.

If they can manage their people a little while longer, then they can still take a shot at reestablishing the next Chinese dynasty. To manage their people they need a strong middle-class. This requirement really binds their hands; you do not dictate a strong and vital middle-class -- you build it -- and that takes time. The only shortcut to building a middle-class is to import it, which is what they have been doing by accepting manufacturing jobs from the West; those jobs build modest wealth, improve economic outlook, and encourage risk taking. When people have an investment in the system they can be relied on to protect it from assault from without or within, and learn the value of blind patriotism. From middle-class patriotism is imperialism born.

So I don't see how China can rise as a super-power without a strong global economy. Afterwards it wouldn't matter, but right now they are still importing a middle-class and without that accomplished their ascendancy is hardly guaranteed.

Though if they get close enough they might just risk it, thinking the people will see that brass ring of global power glittering in the distance and be willing to go where the ride takes them.

cougar

Tue, 12/29/2009 - 15:22 | Link to Comment trav777
trav777's picture

ok...super power status in last century.  USSR and USA.  #1 and #2 world oil producers for the entire time.

China is not resource-rich and they are not anywhere NEAR the level of technology even of the Russians.

China just did manned orbit, ok?  They don't have a bluewater navy.  This is not a superpower.  It's a low-cost manufacturing center trying to do what Japan did.  Did Japan end up a superpower?  No.

Maybe China's technology will improve...it took the japs 20 or 30 years to go from a joke to considered top-shelf.  The world is different now, though; this isn't a growth climate anymore.  There won't be a next superpower.

Tue, 12/29/2009 - 15:47 | Link to Comment cougar_w
cougar_w's picture

[There won't be a next superpower.]

That's an interesting projection. You made me stop and think.

I will submit only that technology ain't all that. China was a superpower and cultural center of the world when Europe was just coming out it's own Dark Ages. We Westerners got a jump ahead (an allowance I use this with some reservation) when we discovered the power of steam and the interesting possibilities inherent in high explosives. The ensuing 300 years of mechanised warfare really isn't anything to be proud of. Nothing "super" about it if you ask me.

I maintain the Chinese will be a superpower, but not on the model we currently know. That model has played itself out. New game, new rules. Not sure what comes next, but I think (perhaps I fear) it will come from the East.

cougar

Tue, 12/29/2009 - 16:43 | Link to Comment trav777
trav777's picture

eh...China was a placeholder in between Rome and Europe post-Renaissance.  Sure, they kept it together but Rome was light years beyond them.  May as well call the muslims a superpower while we're at it.

As for "superpower," that's global dominance.  Rome had it.  China did not.  Ever.

China will always be a regionally significant nation.  As it has been.  But, there's no room for superpowers in a future that holds contraction.  Empires grow one upon another to zeniths and then things collapse.

I don't see how China's emulation of a western model of growth will make them to a superpower.  I'm not persuaded by their ascent during an era where everybody did.

I mean, China?  Puhleaze...look at what WE did.  In the span of the time it took China to drag itself out from basically the opium wars to having some cities on par with the west if you hold your breath and have a gas mask, look what we did.

We went from the onset of the computer age to Folding@home and shit.  A supercomputer costing zillions in the 1980s has less power than my son's PSP.  We networked the world.  I mean, sure, China went from a backwaters to some semblance of modernity, but the US was not standing still and neither was anyone else.

All boats were lifted by the tide.

The ERROR here is projecting China's past into its future.  We don't do that with our own, nor Europe's, nor Japan's.  People did do it with Japan and we saw where that ended - in the supply-side wall.

Tue, 12/29/2009 - 18:40 | Link to Comment KevinB
KevinB's picture

As for "superpower," that's global dominance.  Rome had it.  China did not.  Ever.

The latter part of your statement is true - China never held world dominance. But the first part is arrant nonsense. Rome's empire extended to parts of continental Europe (you might read up on the Germanic wars to find out where their dominance ended), parts of Northern Africa and parts of the Middle East. If Rome ever held domination over Persia, or all of Africa, or any of India, or any of Southeast Asia, let alone China, it would be complete news to millions.

Read some history, dude. You keep posting nonsense.

Wed, 12/30/2009 - 11:54 | Link to Comment chumbawamba
chumbawamba's picture

Haha.  I'm glad I'm not the only one that noticed.

I am Chumbawamba.

Tue, 12/29/2009 - 13:58 | Link to Comment max2205
max2205's picture

lol... anybody know (yeah right) what GS cds exposure id to China... I predict GS will lower exposure to zero Wednesday.

Tue, 12/29/2009 - 14:00 | Link to Comment chet
chet's picture

Goldman knew very well what would happen to oil prices, because they were going to help orchestrate it.  They took "bets" from others on oil prices.  Surprisingly, the bets work out in Goldman's favor.

My question is why anyone would play ball with this company period.  Why would anyone take the opposite bet with these guys?

The misconception is that Goldman is just another player in a great and unpredictable free market.  No. They take a bunch of "bets" against "opponents" and then they make the outcome they want.

Capitalism is a good system.  But our version of capitalism has become complete and utter bullshit. 

It's a game of Monopoly where one player gets control over the bank out of everyone's eyeshot, gets to know what the other player's rolls are before they roll, and gets to reroll when they don't like what they see on the dice.

Good for China.  As soon as my mortgage is underwater, I'm next.

Tue, 12/29/2009 - 19:42 | Link to Comment Renfield
Renfield's picture

Well said, and agreed.

Tue, 12/29/2009 - 14:00 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Tue, 12/29/2009 - 14:58 | Link to Comment Mad Max
Mad Max's picture

China made a mockery of Copenhagen deliberately and solely for its own benefit.  An excellent story on Copenhagen is here:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/dec/22/copenhagen-climate-cha...

 

Tue, 12/29/2009 - 16:12 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Tue, 12/29/2009 - 16:40 | Link to Comment Mad Max
Mad Max's picture

You may like the result (and I didn't want some poorly thought out crap treaty from Copenhagen either) but don't kid yourself that China cares one iota about US consumers or the economic interests of US citizens.  Like most nations, China is looking out for itself, and only itself.  To think otherwise about them is childishly naive.

Tue, 12/29/2009 - 23:41 | Link to Comment Anonymous
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