从海外投资者结构变化看美国国债风险|国际
清华金融评论·2026-01-07 10:10

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the changing landscape of U.S. Treasury holdings, particularly the decline in the share of U.S. debt held by foreign investors, and emphasizes the need for China to diversify its reserve assets and enhance the internationalization of the renminbi [1]. Group 1: Overview of U.S. Treasury Holdings - The total amount of U.S. Treasury securities has reached a historical peak of $38.11 trillion as of October 30, 2025, an increase of nearly $2 trillion from the end of 2024 [4]. - The ratio of U.S. debt to GDP has remained high, reaching 118.78% by the second quarter of 2025 [4]. - The total holdings of U.S. Treasury securities by various investors have surged from $3.04 trillion in Q1 2000 to $26.84 trillion by Q2 2025 [4]. Group 2: Changes in Foreign Investor Holdings - The share of U.S. Treasury securities held by foreign investors has decreased from a peak of 57.30% in Q4 2008 to approximately 34.08% by Q2 2025 [5]. - Despite the decline in share, the total amount held by foreign investors has increased from $4.91 trillion in September 2011 to $9.16 trillion by July 2025, indicating a robust growth trend [8]. - The structure of foreign holdings is shifting, with a slight increase in short-term debt holdings from 12.93% to 15.43% since September 2011, reflecting a preference for liquidity amid uncertain global interest rates [9]. Group 3: Changes in Holder Composition - The composition of foreign holders has shifted significantly, with private investors increasing their holdings from $1.74 trillion in December 2013 to $5.24 trillion by July 2025, a growth of 201.21% [10]. - The share of private investors has risen from 30% in December 2013 to 57.16% by July 2025, surpassing that of official investors for the first time [10]. - Official foreign investors have reduced their holdings from $4.05 trillion in December 2013 to $3.92 trillion by July 2025, a decline of 3.22% [10]. Group 4: Implications for Reserve Diversification - The decline in U.S. Treasury holdings by official foreign investors may be attributed to a trend towards diversifying foreign exchange reserves, with a shift from U.S. dollar assets to gold [11]. - Global official dollar reserve assets have shown a declining trend since 1999, while gold reserves have increased significantly, indicating a strategic shift in reserve management [11].