China‘s Global Lending Spree: The U.S. as a Major Beneficiary

China lent more than $2 trillion in loans and grants to over 80% of countries and regions worldwide between 2000 and 2023. Surprisingly, the U.S. was the biggest beneficiary, according to data released by AidData, a research institute at the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia.

Over the years, Chinese state-owned entities have lent approximately $200 billion for nearly 2,500 projects and initiatives – representing more than 9% of China’s total lending – to American companies. Over 95% of this amount originated from Chinese state-owned banks, enterprises, and the central bank, with the remainder provided by non-state players.

The map below illustrates the amounts lent by China to various countries between 2000 and 2023. During this period, 179 out of 217 countries and territories received at least one loan from a Chinese state-owned creditor.China emerged as the world’s largest creditor and debt collector in 2023,extending $140 billion in loans to various nations.

Entities in Russia and Australia were the second and third largest beneficiaries over the last two decades, receiving $172 billion and $130 billion, respectively. Firms in the 27