There is always bunch of noise regarding foreign buyers buying or dumping US treasuries. The following few graphs aim to separate myth from reality. Although the graphs and the numbers tells us about the major holders of US debt, but the do not give us insight on which duration is being held.
Let us start with the total holdings, i.e. all the US debt owned by foreign entities, mostly other international banks
Next let us see which county has the largest share of the debt.1
And since Japan is the largest holder, has been and is as of today, let us look at Japan's holdings for the last 12 months, also at the Dollar vs Yen. There is a reasonable claim that when the Yen looses value against the dollar, Japan has to sell some of it treasuries to defend the Yen.
And finally let us look at the countries that have made changes to their holdings that is > 10% (up or down) in the last 12 months. months, also at the Dollar vs Yen. There is a reasonable claim that when the Yen looses value against the dollar, Japan has to sell some of it treasuries to defend the Yen.
1 - Countries like Bermuda and Belgium have for a long time been used as front to buy treasuries, while the actual buyer is not exactly disclosed. Also countries like UAE and Saudi Arabia are new to this "business", but they are forced into it. Whenever they need more weapons, they have to "sweeten the deal" by buying treasuries or "invest" in Kushner non-kosher "business". Qatar, on the other hand, found it easier just to hand "president chump" cash and gifts directly.