Since it comes up so often in political rhetoric. Let’s try to put this “China owns the US" myth to bed once and for all, okay? The second entry is from the published accounting of August 2012. You will notice that about 27% is unaccounted for here, that percentage is owned by US citizens, US Mutual Funds, and various State Pension Plans, and it closes that gap quite nicely. China is a major player, no doubt but only owes about 8% of the total. 8% doesn’t count all that much does it! The first entry posted here of the top ten is older, and it varies somewhat from the latest because China and Japan have sold some of their Treasury Bills back to the US between the two periods, so we now own more of our own debt than we did in May of 2012. Here is the Top 10 (as of May/2012) 1. China, Mainland, $1169.6 billion dollars 2. Japan, $1105.2 billion dollars 3. Oil Exporters, $260.9 billion dollars 4. Brazil, $243.4 billion dollars 5. All Other, $229.9 billion dollars 6. Carib Banking Centers, $229.8 billion dollars 7. Taiwan, $187.6 billion dollars 8. United Kingdom, $161.1 billion dollars 9. Russia, $154.1 billion dollars 10. Switzerland, $150.5 billion dollars (This next is the newest and sourced.) FACT: As of summer 2012, the federal government’s outstanding debt surpassed $15 trillion. Who are the nation’s creditors? The government owes the most money to — itself. The Federal Reserve and various US agencies own 41 percent of the federal debt, more than $2 of every $5. Nearly one-third of the national debt is owed to other countries. China is the biggest foreign creditor ($1.144 trillion), followed by Japan ($1.076 trillion), but together they own less than 15 percent of it. Mexico and Canada together are owed $90 billion. Goto: Face the Facts USA: Who owns America's debt?- The Register Citizen
