The United States Is Also Indebted to China
TEHRAN (Iran News) The most important figures from this research, which analyzes 24 years of data (2000–2023), are summarized below:
Key Data Findings
Total volume of China’s lending $2.2 trillion
Credit extended to 200 countries worldwide
Largest loan recipient United States of America
Loan amount to the U.S. Over $200 billion
Number of U.S. projects financed Nearly 2,500 projects
Geographical distribution of projects Spread across virtually every U.S. state
These loans to wealthy nations are focused on critical infrastructure, key minerals, and the acquisition of high-tech assets, including companies that manufacture semiconductor chips.
The report shows that China’s strategy is not merely aiding the development of other countries; rather, these loans are increasingly aligned with China’s national security priorities and economic interests. More than three-quarters of China’s lending operations are now directed at high-income and upper-middle-income countries. This shift contradicts the traditional image of China as a “lender to the developing world.”
Following the announcement of the “Made in China 2025” plan, the share of loans dedicated to sensitive and advanced technology sectors (such as robotics, biotechnology, and semiconductors) has increased from 46% to 88% of China’s loan portfolio for cross-border acquisitions.
The report also notes that China uses methods such as shell companies in confidential jurisdictions and even secret contracts to conceal the origin of these loans. At the same time, the study highlights a key point: the confidentiality of these loan contracts obligates borrowing companies to hide information about such loans from their own governments. Therefore, as Newsweek points out, this report may only reveal part of the extent of these loans and their underlying dimensions.
- author : Hamid Reza Naghashian
- source : IRAN NEWS
