Feb 7 (Reuters) - A group of 17 Republican state

attorneys general alleged that top U.S. asset managers,

including BlackRock ( BLK ) and State Street, were

making improper or inadequate disclosures about their

investments in China.

In a letter dated Thursday, the coalition said the companies

were downplaying risks associated with China, such as its status

as a "designated foreign adversary" of the U.S. or its "apparent

intention to invade Taiwan".

The rebuke comes as a bitter trade war unfolds between the

two biggest economies in the world, and will put asset managers

to the test as they navigate an increasingly complex

geopolitical landscape.

The letter was particularly scathing toward BlackRock ( BLK ), the

biggest issuer of exchange-traded funds tracking emerging

markets equities according to VettaFi's ETF Database.

BlackRock ( BLK ), in a post on X on Friday, said the AGs were

"wrong in at least three significant claims" about the company's

China disclosures.

Citing a publicly available fund document, BlackRock ( BLK )

said it had clearly communicated the threat of a potential

invasion of Taiwan, along with risks related to private property

ownership and auditing practices in China.

U.S. authorities have previously scrutinized investment

firms with exposure to China, citing concerns over potential

human rights abuses and to curb the flow of American capital

into a country they accuse of harboring ambitions to invade

Taiwan.

Beijing denies allegations of human rights abuses and

regards Taiwan as its own territory. Taiwan's government rejects

those claims.

Besides BlackRock ( BLK ) and State Street, the group also took aim

at Invesco ( IVZ ), JPMorgan ( JPM ), Goldman Sachs ( GS ) and

Morgan Stanley ( MS ).

JPMorgan ( JPM ), Goldman Sachs ( GS ), State Street and Invesco ( IVZ ) declined

to comment, while Morgan Stanley ( MS ) did not respond to requests for

comment.

Contents of the letter were earlier reported by Bloomberg

News and the Financial Times.

(Reporting by Niket Nishant in Bengaluru; Editing by Maju

Samuel and Devika Syamnath)