I'm not sure you're following this thread. Let's look at the whole conversation again.

Jedi72: Posits possibility that the story could be fake and planted by the US as a propaganda tool for their trade war.

steve19: Posits reasons for why it's not likely to be a propaganda lie planted by the US.

inetknght: Posits that it could be China that planted the fake story for the sake of making US industry waste funds (again, this is all still a hypothetical conversation based on Jedi72's original contemplation of the possibility of the story being fake).

topmonk: Posits that if China planted the story, China could lose reputation and should be given the bill for the audits. It's possible that topmonk misunderstood inetknght and was in fact referring to the US. But I'm assuming that topmonk understood inetknght to be referring to China and so posited that China should be left with the bill if the story turned out to be fake.

Me: First, questions how the US would make China pay the bill. Second, notes reasons why it doesn't make sense for China to start spreading misinformation like this (again, going on Jedi72's contemplation of the possibility of the story being fake). Ironically, your reply actually bolsters my original contention against topmonk's comment. It makes no sense for China to want to plant a fake story like this.

> Ironically, your reply actually bolsters my original contention against topmonk's comment. It makes no sense for China to want to plant a fake story like this.

I think you aren't understanding my comment, and you confused ra1n85 with your response to me.

It's strange that you think I believe that it would make sense that China would plant a fake story. As you wrote yourself, "topmonk: Posits that if China planted the story, China could lose reputation and should be given the bill for the audits."

I actually said "An argument could be made..." I meant that if there was a trade negotiation going on, the USA could bring this up as a way of trying to force China to give up something else.

But, back on topic. I agree with you, as you said, "It makes no sense for China to want to plant a fake story like this." Can you tell me where I suggested otherwise? I reread the whole thread and I can't see why you'd think I thought that China might have planted a fake story, or it would be a good idea for China to do so.

I understand you now. Sorry, it wasn't clear to me before. Looks like we're actually completely on the same page. I got completely twisted in the logic.

Ignoring ra1n85 (it seems the 3 of us are probably on the same page), my original question for you was how would you make China pay the bill. You say that the US could use this as leverage to force China to give up something else. I'm not confident that's great leverage by itself, but I just thought of something that may answer my own question.

IF China had the gall to plant a fake story, I would imagine it would be a sign of weakness. There's no reason to plant a fake story if their bargaining position is strong, so a fake story plant would be only the craziest of Hail Mary options, a poison pill that acknowledges, "hey, we're gonna lose, how can we cause the most damage we can before we go down completely?"

So if the US was able to confirm a fake story plant by China, they'd have more confidence in going full court press and getting everything they want because their bargaining position would just be that strong (discounting actual war).

I suppose discussing all the hypotheticals for what happens if China plants a fake story is getting out of hand and not worth all the typing....