US federal deficit: how much does China own of America's debt?
The US Federal Deficit is an indicator of America's reliance on China. Find out which countries are propping up the US economy
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The US Federal Deficit is always in the news - and when Chinese premier Hu Jintao arrives to a lavish reception at the White House, he comes as bigger lender to the developing world than the World Bank.
And last year, Alan Greenspan, former chairman of the Federal Reserve, said the US is pursuing a policy of weakening its currency.
In the recent past, China has defended its investment in US Treasury bonds. Meanwhile, there is concern that its position as the biggest investor in US debt may become political as well as economic.
Treasury bonds are how the US - and all governments for that matter - borrow money: they issue government securities, which other countries and institutions buy. So, the US national debt is owned predominantly by Asian economies. The US Treasury releases the figures on this - here they are in a more useable form.
Previously, China has expressed concern over the security of its vast United States treasury holdings and premier Wen Jiabao has urged Washington to safeguard their value.
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DATA: Foreign owners of US treasury securities
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