There was a time, not so long ago, when bond defaults were unknown in China’s domestic market. That was not a testament to the quality of borrowers, but a reflection of routine government bailouts and the rolling over of loans from government-controlled banks when default looked imminent.

The government intervened for several reasons. Most borrowers can claim some sort of government link, however tenuous that may be. Many borrowers are local governments. But even commercial businesses that offer no public benefit may be owned or operated by some branch of government.

Policymakers are sensitive to the need for social and financial stability. The legitimacy of China’s rulers is linked to delivering economic benefits that lead to tangible improvements in people’s lives. Finally, there was a desire not to scare investors away from a nascent bond market that is considered critical to the country’s long-term development.