Hektor

Chinese are enterprising! https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/30/business/chinese-electric-vehicles-thailand.html Chinese E.V. Makers Rush in and Upend a Country’s Entire Auto Market China’s electric vehicle companies are making inroads in Thailand, a key industry hub, as Europe and the United States wield tariffs to keep them out. Ma Haiyang and eight of his colleagues arrived in Thailand a year ago to establish the first overseas operation for GAC Aion, an electric vehicle maker from China. They had no office, no factory, no local employees and, basically, no clue. The Aion team set up shop in a Bangkok hotel, commandeering conference rooms and holding meetings in the lobby. They had a long list of things to do: Find office space, recruit dealers and devise a business strategy. The team worked around the clock and, 74 days after arriving in Thailand, sold its first electric vehicle. “The window of opportunity for Chinese new energy vehicles going overseas will be relatively short,” said Mr. Ma, general manager at Aion for Southeast Asia, using China’s preferred phrase for fully electric and gas-electric hybrid vehicles. “This is why we wanted to hurry up,” he added.

Inertia

https://www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/interactive/2024/china-migrants-us-border-san-diego-new-york/ Migrants from China ‘walk the line’ to U.S. border, testing Biden and Xi Driven in part by the stifling economic and political fallout of China’s extended covid-19 lockdowns, the Chinese arrivals have become a political and national security flash point in Washington.

I think Buffett has long advertised his parameters for buying back his own share, and telling (or may be tuning) his share holders to think of such an action to mean that Berkshire is cheap in his view - which is different from other CEOs who may not advertise that their own shares are cheap. Also, I think Buffett (and Munger, may be) prefers other companies where Berkshire is a share holder (e.g. Apple) buy back their own shares, even when the shares are fairly valued, to avoid the alternative use of that capital (i.e. diworsify). Note: I have no views on Buffet's buy back approach being marketing or not @Viking, Thanks much for generously sharing your thinking and writing.

I think I read somewhere that Singleton, in his later years, approached Buffett and Munger to sell his firm. The transaction did not proceed due to Singleton needing Berkshire shares and Buffet/Munger preferring to pay in cash.

Some of Bill Ackman's actions might fit this bill.

https://www.politico.com/news/2024/07/26/states-china-pensions-00171437 ‘Circle the wagons’ — state pension funds are dumping Chinese investments Some state lawmakers say they want to protect pension fund investments in China from becoming collateral damage in a possible Indo-Pacific conflict. A growing number of states are forcing public employee pension funds to divest from China, pulling out of the world’s second-largest economy because of hostility toward Beijing and fear that U.S. assets could be frozen if conflict breaks out in the Indo-Pacific. Five states — Indiana, Florida, Missouri, Oklahoma and Kansas — have directed state fund administrators to begin the divestment process over the past year. And more are considering doing so — the latest sign of deteriorating relations between the U.S. and China.

This is posted in the BABA thread as well. Posting it here, since I feel it touches upon the murkiness of the Chinese system and the associated risks. https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/21/world/asia/jack-ma-xiao-jianhua.html

https://www.wsj.com/us-news/chinese-migrants-tap-extensive-networks-to-join-the-u-s-economy-4deeb436

This issue seems to be resolved now. "Load More Activity" is loading more activity.

Tagging @Parsad to the above for attention.

When clicking on the "Load More Activity" button at the bottom of the "Activity" / "All Activity" greys out the button, but does not seem to load more activities. Previously, it used to list more content. Is anyone else facing this issue?

https://www.wsj.com/us-news/u-s-sends-a-plane-of-chinese-migrants-to-china-dbaa211c The Department of Homeland Security said Tuesday that 116 Chinese nationals were deported back to China, a move that came after a surge of Chinese migrants entering at the U.S. southern border in recent years. The Chinese migrants crossing the border are generally people from underprivileged groups, with low incomes, education levels and skills and with little or no chance of securing a U.S. visa. Their departures have often been driven by economic hardship or traumatic encounters with Chinese authorities. Between January and May, some 10,171 Chinese migrants crossed the Darién Gap, the 60 miles or so of treacherous terrain connecting South and Central America. That compares with 25,565 for the full year in 2023, and a total of 2,381 in the years from 2010 to 2022, according to Panama migration data. Chinese nationals were the fourth-largest group making the Darién crossing from Colombia in 2024, the data showed. Many pay smugglers to help them en route.

https://www.wsj.com/finance/warren-buffett-gives-us-a-preview-of-his-will-419ad46d Warren Buffett, who owns nearly $130 billion in Berkshire Hathaway stock, will direct his fortune into a new charitable trust overseen by his children. In an interview with The Wall Street Journal, Buffett—the chairman and chief executive of Berkshire Hathaway said that after his death nearly all of his remaining wealth will go to a new charitable trust overseen by his daughter and two sons. The legendary investor also made clear his giving to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, to which he has donated billions, will come to an end. “The Gates Foundation has no money coming after my death,” Buffett said.

China used to be the world's destination for all things manufacturing. That might be shifting. While the shift might not be detrimental to China in the short run, I doubt how anyone can prosper without friendly relations with the world. https://www.nytimes.com/2024/06/26/business/india-us-manufacturing.html For American Brands Worried About China, Is India the Future? As multinational retailers diminish their dependence on Chinese factories, some are shifting production to India. In a global marketplace reshaped by volatile forces — not least the animosity between the United States and China — India shows signs of emerging as a potentially significant place to manufacture products. Multinational brands that have for decades relied on Chinese factories are expanding to India as they seek to limit the vulnerabilities of concentrating production in any single country. India presents a unique proposition as a country of 1.4 billion people, making it even larger than China. With abundant raw materials, from cotton to iron ore to chemicals, it holds the potential to develop its own supply chain.

I guess this is a glimpse of the long run way opportunities in India has. https://www.nytimes.com/2024/06/26/business/india-us-manufacturing.html For American Brands Worried About China, Is India the Future? As multinational retailers diminish their dependence on Chinese factories, some are shifting production to India. In a global marketplace reshaped by volatile forces — not least the animosity between the United States and China — India shows signs of emerging as a potentially significant place to manufacture products. Multinational brands that have for decades relied on Chinese factories are expanding to India as they seek to limit the vulnerabilities of concentrating production in any single country. India presents a unique proposition as a country of 1.4 billion people, making it even larger than China. With abundant raw materials, from cotton to iron ore to chemicals, it holds the potential to develop its own supply chain.

Interesting. I looked up Oligarchy and found this in Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oligarchy "Oligarchy (from Ancient Greek ὀλιγαρχία (oligarkhía) 'rule by few'; from ὀλίγος (olígos) 'few', and ἄρχω (árkhō) 'to rule, command')[1][2][3] is a conceptual form of power structure in which power rests with a small number of people. These people may or may not be distinguished by one or several characteristics, such as nobility, fame, wealth, education, or corporate, religious, political, or military control. Throughout history, power structures considered to be oligarchies have often been viewed as coercive, relying on public obedience or oppression to exist."

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/06/25/science/change-6-china-earth-moon.html China Becomes First Country to Retrieve Rocks From the Moon’s Far Side The sample, which might hold clues about the origins of the moon and Earth, is the latest achievement of China’s lunar exploration program.

Probably an after effect of bringing Ma to his knees!

https://www.barrons.com/articles/buffett-sees-ice-cream-1477f391 Warren Buffett’s Candy Company Is Trying to Scoop the Competition Warren Buffett has seen all kinds of mergers in his time, but here’s a sweet deal that’s a first even for him: See’s Candies is getting into ice cream. The iconic candy company, owned by Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway , is launching a limited-time collaboration with McConnell’s Fine Ice Creams, a 75-year old Santa Barbara, Calif.-based company, starting this Friday—just days before July, which is national ice cream month.

Also, never let a opportunity to get under the skin go to waste https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/dalai-lamas-legacy-will-live-on-you-will-nancy-pelosis-grim-prediction-for-xi-jinping/articleshow/111114024.cms Dalai Lama’s legacy will live on and Xi will be gone, says Nancy Pelosi In a strongly-worded statement on the Chinese President, Pelosi — who is part of a bipartisan delegation from the US Congress — said that the former “will be gone and nobody will give him any credit”.

Can’t speak for the above. However, I came across the following in a number of news reports. In the last couple of years, China seem to have removed many of the saber rattlers in the army and the wolf warriors among its diplomats. Is China reining back the hawks in the military and among the diplomats to avoid a conflict? Or, are they replacing the hawks with others in preparation for a conflict? https://www.reuters.com/world/china/chinas-xi-says-army-faces-deep-seated-problems-anti-corruption-drive-2024-06-19/ China's Xi says army faces 'deep-seated' problems in anti-corruption drive China's President Xi Jinping said there were "deep-seated problems" in the Chinese military's politics, ideology, work style and discipline, state-run CCTV reported Wednesday, amid an ongoing military anti-corruption purge. "There must be no hiding place for corrupt elements in the army," Xi was quoted as saying at a military political work conference this week in the northwestern city of Yanan, the founding stronghold of the Chinese Communist Party.

I would say that this phenomenon is seen in many places over the world for the same reasons.

Well said @whatstheofficerproblem