China owed $385bn – including ‘hidden debt’ from poorer nations, says report

AidData finds 42 low-to-middle income countries with belt and road' exposure exceeding 10% of GDP

Researchers have identified debts of at least $385bn (286bn) owed by 165 countries to China for "belt and road initiative" (BRI) projects, with loans systematically underreported to international bodies such as the World Bank.

The four-year study by US-based research lab AidData said the debt burdens were kept off the public balance sheets through the use of special purpose and semi-private loans, and were substantially larger than research institutions, credit rating agencies, or intergovernmental organisations with surveillance responsibilities previously understood".