China sold a record amount of U.S. government bonds in the first quarter of 2024, according to U.S. Treasury data, continuing what many economists believe is a strategic shift away from dollar assets.
In the first three months of 2024, China sold $53.3 billion worth of U.S. Treasurys and agency bonds.
China’s actions come as it rapidly increases its purchases of gold and other commodities, part of a broader strategy to diversify its assets amid rising geopolitical tensions with the U.S. Observing the economic impact of sanctions on Russia following its 2022 invasion of Ukraine, some analysts say China aims to mitigate similar risks.
Craig Shapiro, a macro adviser to LaDuc Trading, identified three primary reasons for this trend. “The handling of Russian reserves by the U.S. and other G7 countries, including threats of expropriations and sanctions, likely prompted China to reduce its…