China remains the largest foreign U.S. creditor after increasing its holdings of U.S. Treasury bonds by $19.7 billion in December 2012, data released by the U.S. Treasury Department showed on February 15.

December 2012 was the third consecutive month in which China increased its holdings of U.S. Treasury securities.

A total of $1.203 trillion in U.S. Treasury bonds were held by China at the end of 2012.

Japan, the U.S.'s second largest creditor, also increased its holdings of U.S. Treasury bonds to $1.12 trillion in December.

At the end of December 2012, U.S. Treasury bonds held by major foreign creditors totaled $5.56 trillion, higher than the $5.54 trillion in November, and an increase for 12 consecutive months.