Our debt with China politically exaggerated

The U.S. debt is more than $15.5 trillion, and is the sum of all outstanding debt owed by the Federal Government. Nearly two-thirds is the public debt, which is owed to the people, businesses and foreign governments who bought Treasury bills, notes and bonds.

The rest is owed by the government to itself, and is held as Government Account securities. Most of this is owed to Social Security and other trust funds, which were running surpluses. These securities are a promise to repay these funds when Baby Boomers retire over the next 20 years. (Source: U.S. Treasury, Debt to the Penny;

Of the total foreign holdings ($4.49 trillion), China owns $1.1 trillion and Japan owns $900 billion. The U.K. owns $300 billion, while Brazil, the oil exporting countries, Hong Kong, Russia and Canada own between $100-$280 billion each.