China’s presidency – now no longer a two-term function – is highly ceremonial, but still matters, writes journalist Ian Johnson, author of The Souls of China: The Return of Religion After Mao at the NY Review of Books. Xi Jinping was already lifetime leader of the Communist Party and of the Central Military Committee.Read More →

We have seen this before, says financial analyst Victor Shih about the efforts by the financial authorities in China to reduce debts. In 2014 they tried the same, and in 2015, 2016 the PBOC, China’s central bank, started to print money again. When economic growth comes under a certain level, that will happen again, he tells Bloomberg.Read More →

China’s government seems eager to control debts, even when it means a mitigation of economic growth. But the financial stimulus will remain a trusted tool in the country’s financial toolbox, in case growth drops too far, says financial analyst Victor Shih at the Deutsche WelleRead More →

China might have announced drastic reform of its government, state-owned companies are still lagging behind in reforms, argues financial analyst Sara Hsu. Because their access to state funding is unlimited, they keep on creating new debts and have little incentive to improve efficiency, says Sara Hsu at CGTN.Read More →

The world was once again flabbergasted by the US trade measures since it did hurt designated trade enemy China less than potential US allies again China, says leading economist Arthur Kroeber, author of China’s Economy: What Everyone Needs to Know®. Behind those measures are efforts to design a whole new playbook, to change global economy, he tells both Livemint and Bloomberg.Read More →

The disruption caused by trade tensions is not going to give the US more market share for American companies, says leading economist Arthur Kroeber, author of China’s Economy: What Everyone Needs to Know® to Bloomberg. And that is not what the US wants: “The USTR is not trying to bargain with Beijing: it is trying to force a deep change in behavior.”Read More →

As China prepares for the second term of president Xi Jinping, the world wonders what is behind his acts. Political analyst Victor Shih, author Factions and Finance in China: Elite Conflict and Inflation takes at the Guardian a helicopter view on Xi’s anti-corruption drive, his global aspirations and plans for the future.Read More →

China has reacted pretty cool on the increased signals US president Donal Trump is heading for a trade war, says leading economist Arthur Kroeber, author of China’s Economy: What Everyone Needs to Know® to the Washington Post. While the traditional conflict-solving procedures at the WTO might not fit the tit-for-tat approach of a trade war, China can afford to keep its composure.Read More →