Asia Times
Chris Taylor August 14, 2018 1:03 PM (UTC+8)
[excerpt]
http://www.atimes.com/article/president-xis-china-dream-collides-with-the-impossible-trinity/After several decades of unprecedented growth and global adulation, China watchers are increasingly focusing on the headwinds. The world’s second-largest economy suddenly appears to be dithering – to be, perhaps, even frail.
The reasons are not only systemic economic contradictions. They are also a result of ad hoc governance solutions that President Xi Jinping has been forced to undertake to fortify the redoubt of Communist Party rule.
Economically, some observers are vexed by the daunting balancing act demanded of massive debt deleveraging and continued stimulus to maintain growth required to escape the so-called middle-income trap.
