General · 7 May 2026
China, US drive $353 trillion debt, risking global loans.
Rising borrowing costs could make loans and government spending harder to manage worldwide. A report from the Institute of International Finance said global debt reached nearly US$353 trillion in the first quarter of 2026, with China and the United States driving much of the increase. Authors warned conflict in the Middle East, energy security demands and artificial intelligence investment may add further pressure.
Reported by South China Morning Post · How we write briefs