Ralls lawsuit against Obama a 'lesson' for China investors
Chinese-linked company's lawsuit against the president of the US fights unfair treatment, says affiliate's director as case goes high profile
A lawsuit by Chinese-linked Ralls Corp against US President Barack Obama, Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner and the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) has been called a lesson for mainland companies expanding overseas.
Ralls, of which mainland construction machinery maker Sany is an affiliate, has been ordered to divest its interest in four windfarms in the US state of Oregon amid national security concerns.
"We do not threaten US national security, have not broken the law and yet we are blocked. So we are forced to go high-profile in this case," said Sany Group director Xiang Wenbo at a press conference in Beijing yesterday.
The case will be heard in the US District Court of Washington DC on November 28, reported Xinhua.
Ralls is owned by Sany chief financial officer Duan Dawei and Sany vice-president Wu Jialiang, according to Ralls' lawsuit filed with the court on October 1.
"Everybody knows we have received unfair treatment in the US. The order was issued by President Obama. If we don't sue him, who do we sue?" Xiang was quoted on the website of the Phoenix television channel.
Wu, who is also Ralls's chief executive, was quoted by Phoenix as saying the lawsuit is a sign of its faith in the rule of law in the US.
