China’s loans bite back: 75 poorest and most vulnerable nations need to pay $22 bn

China is putting growing financial pressure on developing countries, as debt repayments hit record levels. In 2025, these countries are expected to pay USD 35 billion to China, USD 22 billion of that from the world's 75 poorest and most vulnerable nations. Most of these payments are for loans taken under China's Belt and Road Initiative during the 2010s.