Debt Relief with Chinese Characteristics

Acker, Kevin, Deborah Brautigam, and Yufan Huang. 2020. Debt Relief with Chinese Characteristics. Working Paper No. 2020/39. China Africa Research Initiative, School of Advanced International Studies, Johns Hopkins University, Washington, DC.

43 Pages Posted: 9 Dec 2020

See all articles by Kevin Acker

Kevin Acker

Johns Hopkins University

Deborah Brautigam

Johns Hopkins University - Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS)

Yufan Huang

Johns Hopkins University - Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS)

Date Written: June 2020

Abstract

As China is poised to become the world’s largest creditor, concerns about debt sustainability have grown. Yet considerable confusion exists over what is likely to happen when a government runs into trouble repaying its Chinese loans. In this working paper, we draw on data from the China Africa Research Initiative (CARI) to review evidence on China’s debt cancellation and restructuring in Africa, in comparative and historical perspective. Cases from Sri Lanka, Iraq, Zimbabwe, Ethiopia, Angola, and the Republic of Congo, among others, point to debt relief patterns with distinctly Chinese characteristics. In nearly all cases, China has only offered debt write-offs for zero-interest loans. Our study found that between 2000 and 2019, China has cancelled at least US$ 3.4 billion of debt in Africa. There is no “China, Inc.”: for interest-bearing loans, treatment for inter-governmental debt and Chinese company loans are negotiated separately, and often loan-by-loan rather than for the entire portfolio. While rescheduling by increasing the repayment period is common, changes in interest rates, reductions in principal (“haircuts”), or refinancing are not. We found that China has restructured or refinanced approximately US$ 15 billion of debt in Africa between 2000 and 2019. We found no “asset seizures” and despite contract clauses requiring arbitration, no evidence of the use of courts to enforce payments, or application of penalty interest rates. Although Chinese lenders have applied Paris Club terms to some rescheduling, on the borrower’s request, Chinese lenders prefer to address restructuring quietly, on a bilateral basis, tailoring programs to each situation. Yet the lack of transparency fuels suspicion about Chinese intentions. These patterns are likely to play out as Chinese lenders and African borrowers grapple with the impact of COVID-19.

Keywords: China, debt relief, BRI, Africa, debt sustainability, loans

Suggested Citation

Acker, Kevin and Brautigam, Deborah and Huang, Yufan, Debt Relief with Chinese Characteristics (June 2020). Acker, Kevin, Deborah Brautigam, and Yufan Huang. 2020. Debt Relief with Chinese Characteristics. Working Paper No. 2020/39. China Africa Research Initiative, School of Advanced International Studies, Johns Hopkins University, Washington, DC., Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3745021 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3745021

Kevin Acker

Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, MD 20036-1984
United States

Deborah Brautigam (Contact Author)

Johns Hopkins University - Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) ( email )

1740 Massachusetts Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20036-1984
United States

Yufan Huang

Johns Hopkins University - Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) ( email )

1740 Massachusetts Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20036-1984
United States

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