Perhaps because of the US Treasuries they have bought?
Look, obstinance and anger neither equal nor overcome facts.
The term "trade deficit" is a quick and dirty way of saying "imports exceed exports". For example, Hawaii has a massive trade deficit, because it must import nearly everything. That does NOT mean that Hawaii is deeply in debt.
Hawaii could go on a "Hawaii first!" campaign and require all its citizens to "buy Hawaiian" and reject any imports. This would result in either 1) severe shortages, or 2) severe price increases, or probably BOTH. Forcing the state to avoid "trade deficits" would be nearly crippling.
Hawaiians could scream and moan about how its petroleum production has been outsourced to Texas and Alaska, just to satisfy greedy oil companies. Or they could stage protests over how the Hawaiian sandstone market is being brutally undercut by cheap imports from New Mexico.
OK, I'm digressing in a big way here. But these topics are all interrelated.
Forget about what I think. Everyone says we run a trade deficit with China, Japan and others. Are you going to dispute this?
Your Hawaii example is absurd.
Discuss trade deficits and surpluses between nations. Not some trade deficit you think Hawaii has