US Is Biggest Recipient of Chinese Loans, William & Mary Study Shows

The United States is the biggest recipient of China’s lending activities globally, according to a study that tracked Beijing’s credit activities and found it is increasingly lending to higher-income countries over developing ones, Reuters reported.

More than three-quarters of China’s overseas lending operations now support projects and activities in upper-middle-income and high-income countries.

The report, published recently by AidData, a research lab at the College of William & Mary in the US, said China’s lending and grant-giving totaled $2.2 trillion across 200 countries in every region of the world from 2000 to 2023.

The US topped the list for official sector credit from China, receiving more than $200 billion for nearly 2,500 projects and activities, the report said.

The report, published recently by AidData, a research lab at the College of William & Mary in the US, said China’s lending and grant-giving totaled $2.2 trillion across 200 countries in every region of the world from 2000 to 2023.

The US topped the list for official sector credit from China, receiving more than $200 billion for nearly 2,500 projects and activities, the report said.

More than three-quarters of China’s overseas lending operations now support projects and activities in upper-middle-income and high-income countries.

“Much of the lending to wealthy countries is focused on critical infrastructure, critical minerals, and the acquisition of high-tech assets like semiconductor companies,” said lead author Brad Parks, AidData’s executive director.

China has long been seen as a creditor to developing countries through its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), but is shifting toward lending to advanced economies. Beijing’s portfolio size is two to four times larger than previous estimates suggest, AidData said, adding that China remains the world’s largest official creditor.