China rejects criticisms regarding its debt issue

The Foreign Ministry rejected on Tuesday criticisms regarding China's debt issue related to developing countries, saying that such claims ignore facts and overlook the role of Western commercial lenders and multilateral institutions in driving up repayment pressure in the Global South.

Developing nations face enormous financial strain as debt payments to China reached record highs this year, Australian think tank Lowy Institute said in a report on Tuesday. The report also raised questions about whether China could seek to parlay these debts for geopolitical leverage.

China's Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning questioned the basis of the report, stressing that China's investment and financing cooperation with developing countries is in line with international common practices, the market principle and the principle of debt sustainability.

A small number of countries spread the rumor of China's debt responsibility, but avoid talking about the fact that multilateral financial institutions and commercial creditors of developed countries are the major creditors of developing countries and the source of their repayment pressure, she said.

"Rumors can't cover the truth and fair-minded people can tell right from wrong," she added.