This is because countries across the world – including the UK – owe a significant sum to the Chinese economy, including some of Europe's biggest economies. Primarily as a result of its ambitious Belt and Road Initiative, China is owed money by countries like Mongolia, Pakistan and Montenegro – all having been identified as already owing sums in excess of 45 percent of their GDP to Beijing. But as well as developing economies, countries such as the US and the UK also have government bonds which belong to Chinese business or even the Communist Party directly.