National debt is real. Most of us are concerned with our daily and personal finances but aware of some BIG PICTURE issues fundamentally affecting our future. On this macro level, U.S. debt should be a concern we share, regardless of politics, as we are all affected by this. “In a 2018 Pew Research Center survey, America’s debt to China was the top concern among respondents in the US, with 89% saying the problem was “very serious.” (Wike and Devlin, 2018). Just to be clear: “The US national debt has grown during the Covid-19 pandemic and is now roughly $26 trillion….the most in the world, in nominal terms. Most of it is owned by domestic actors…Foreign investors—mostly governments or central banks—hold $6.13 trillion of US Treasury bonds. Of that, mainland China purportedly owns $1.1 trillion.” (MSN, Annabelle Timsit, 2020).

This is 26,000 BILLION dollars of debt. Almost too much to conceptualize. Ultimately, and no matter what President or which Congress or Political Party borrowed the money- this is OUR debt. Our children’s and their children’s debt. For those of you who want to be informed, here is a National Debt Clock: https://www.pgpf.org/national-debt-clock. It also gives a current figure for the specific debt of each person in America: $84,697 as of 3/15/2021.

China and Japan own 33% of our Foreign Debt. I am personally a huge fan of Post-War Japan, and recognize them, along with India, as huge stakeholders and countries we should align ourselves with financially and militaristically. The real concern for me, is China This MSN article outlines the strategic concerns the United States is facing by allowing China- which in all honesty represents the opposite of everything America stands for, like freedom, safety, personal agency, access to information, and the right to speak ones truth- not to mention organ harvesting, environmental destruction, mass-murder, torture, and genocide, to name just a very few. China, in subjective terms, is evil.

The deeper concern is how China operates a Debt Trap Strategy. “Some of the anxiety around China holding a lot of US debt might stem from the country’s reputation for engaging in “debt-trap diplomacy.” (MSN, Annabelle Timsit, 2020). China offers billions to politicians globally, ensnares them in debt, making both country and politician beholden to China’s interests. We must watch very carefully how our politicians intend to make due on their promises. It’s YOUR credit card, and you have to pay- with interest. When our politicians fix their problems with debt from China, we are playing into the hands of our most ruthless enemy. Not the people of China- we love the thousands of years of Chinese history and contributions to World culture- but to the Communist Party that rules. The Devil still wears red.