Isaac Stone Fish
Isaac's comments and excerpt from the article: "Read this article about what happened to Western companies that didn't leave Russia before the war started. The lesson for Western companies in China?
If there is to be a hot war with China – leave before the war starts, or take your hits and stay throughout the war: Leaving after a war begins is incredibly challenging, and expensive.
'Mr. Putin has turned the exits of major Western companies into a windfall for Russia’s loyal elite and the state itself. He has forced companies wishing to sell to do so at fire-sale prices. He has limited sales to buyers anointed by Moscow. Sometimes he has seized firms outright.
A New York Times investigation traced how Mr. Putin has turned an expected misfortune into an enrichment scheme. Western companies that have announced departures have declared more than $103 billion in losses since the start of the war, according to a Times analysis of financial reports. Mr. Putin has squeezed companies for as much of that wealth as possible by dictating the terms of their departure.
He has also subjected those exits to ever-increasing taxes, generating at least $1.25 billion in the past year for Russia’s war chest.'"