Poorest nations facing 'tidal wave' of debt to China, report warns

The most vulnerable nations on Earth are facing a "tidal wave" of debt repayments as a Chinese lending boom starts to be called in, a report has warned.

- Helen Davidson

The analysis, published yesterday by the Australian foreign policy thinktank the Lowy Institute, said that in 2025 the poorest 75 countries were on the hook for record high debt repayments of $22bn (£16bn) to China. The 75 nations' debt formed the bulk of the total $35bn calculated by Lowy for 2025.

"Now, and for the rest of this decade, China will be more debt collector than banker to the developing world," the report said.

The pressure to repay put a strain on local funding for health and education as well as for climate breakdown mitigation, it added.

The report continued: "China's lending has collapsed exactly when it is needed most, instead creating large net financial outflows when countries are already under intense economic pressure."