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When It Comes to the G20’s DSSI, China’s Playing by a Different Set of Rules

by Eric Olander
Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Zhao Lijian. GREG BAKER / AFP

There’s an enormous disconnect between how the Chinese are approaching the debt crisis in poor countries and the expectations of the world’s legacy donors.

People like World Bank President David Malpass seem befuddled as to why China is not fully supporting the G20’s Debt Service Suspension Initiative (DSSI). For weeks now, he’s been telling anyone who’ll listen that “Chinese creditors aren’t participating.” U.S., European and Japanese stakeholders have all expressed similar sentiments.

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