(Yicai Global) July 17 -- China's holdings of US government debt rose to a three-month high in May as the Asian country maintained its status as America’s second-largest creditor.

China added USD10.9 billion of Treasuries from a month earlier to reach USD1.08 trillion in May, according to data the US Department of the Treasury released yesterday.

During that month, foreign holdings of US Treasuries rose by USD95.5 billion to USD6.9 trillion, also a three-month high.

Japan was the No. 1 creditor country to the US, even though its holdings fell to about USD1.3 trillion. The UK was No. 3 with iUSD393.5 billion, up USD19.7 billion. No. 4 Ireland also bought more, as its tally climbed by USD23.2 billion to USD323.5 billion.

Editor: Emmi Laine