Trump is reportedly looking into hitting Beijing with 'antique' debt obligations from Imperial China

The Trump administration amid the U.S.-China trade war is apparently examining the "loony" idea of going to Beijing with century-old debt obligations.
Owners of 100-year-old Chinese bonds have been asking President Trump to get Beijing to honor them, Bloomberg reports, with the administration currently "studying" this "unlikely prospect." This debt hasn't been recognized by the People's Republic of China, but Trump, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, and Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross have reportedly held meetings with bondholders to discuss it.
In fact, Jonna Bianco, who is leading an organization that's been lobbying Trump in hopes that these bonds can become an unexpected tool in the U.S.-China trade war, suggested to Bloomberg that these debt obligations adjust to about as much as the U.S.' $1 trillion debt to China. "What's wrong with paying China with their own paper?" she asked.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Still, Duke University law professor Mitu Gulati told Bloomberg that "I think everyone who works for Trump at the Treasury Department thinks this is loony," although Gulati couldn't help but be intrigued, "because at a legal level these are perfectly valid debts." So could the U.S. really gain an upper hand in its trade war with China thanks to a bunch of people riffling through their attics looking for dusty old pieces of paper? Probably not, but for 2019, it sounds about right.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.
-
The Week Unwrapped: Why are sinkholes becoming more common?
Podcast Plus, will Saudi investment help create the "Netflix of sport"? And why has New Zealand's new tourism campaign met with a savage reception?
By The Week UK Published
-
How Poland became Europe's military power
The Explainer Warsaw has made its armed forces a priority as it looks to protect its borders and stay close to the US
By Elizabeth Carr-Ellis, The Week UK Published
-
Quiz of The Week: 15 - 21 February
Have you been paying attention to The Week's news?
By The Week Staff Published
-
Trump seeks to end New York's congestion pricing
Speed Read The MTA quickly filed a lawsuit to stop the move
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Trump officials try to reverse DOGE-led firings
Speed Read Mass firings by Elon Musk's team have included employees working on the H5N1 bird flu epidemic and US nuclear weapons programs
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Trump blames Ukraine for war after US-Russia talks
Speed Read The US and Russia have agreed to work together on ending the Ukraine war — but President Trump has flipped America's approach
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Musk's DOGE seeks access to IRS, Social Security files
Speed Read If cleared, the Department of Government Efficiency would have access to tax returns, bank records and other highly personal information about most Americans
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Senate confirms RFK Jr. as health secretary
Speed Read The noted vaccine skeptic is now in charge of America's massive public health system
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Trump lays out plans for broad 'reciprocal' tariffs
Speed Read Tariffs imposed on countries that are deemed to be treating the US unfairly could ignite a global trade war and worsen American inflation
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Top US prosecutors resign rather than drop Adams case
speed read The interim US attorney for the Southern District and five senior Justice Department officials quit following an order to drop the charges against Mayor Eric Adams
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Senate confirms Gabbard as intelligence chief
Speed Read The controversial former Democratic lawmaker, now Trump loyalist, was sworn in as director of national intelligence
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published