The Chinese economy is facing significant challenges, including sky-high youth unemployment, a tumbling stock market, and continuing real-estate turmoil. These economic difficulties have led to increased speculation about Xi Jinping's next moves. Some observers believe that Xi has a great political-economic incentive to focus on addressing the economic issues as his defining concern. However, there are also concerns that the deteriorating economic situation might push Xi towards taking bold actions, such as making a play for Taiwan. Despite the scale of the problems, Xi has so far taken only half-measures and failed to follow through on past promises, which has not been enough to rekindle confidence in the economy. The odds that Xi Jinping makes a play for Taiwan at some point this year dramatically spiked overnight.
Sky-high youth unemployment, a tumbling stock market, and continuing real-estate turmoil threaten to derail #XiJinping's "#China dream," writes @kongmingshang in @TheNatlInterest. https://t.co/7z6s1OfL3e
Given the scale of China's problems, bold action is needed. Xi Jinping, though, has taken half measures and failed to follow through on past promises. Rousing rhetoric isn't enough to rekindle confidence in the economy https://t.co/NUI5apNPfw 👇
The odds that Xi Jinping makes a play for Taiwan at some point this year dramatically spiked overnight.
There is a more ominous lesson here. The Chinese economy is in significant difficulty, and Xi has great political-economic incentive to focus on addressing that matter as his defining concern. Keeping the perception of a smooth hand at the helm... (1/3) https://t.co/JnS4cV0O7z
As Chinese economy deteriorates, Xi is more or less likely to invade Taiwan?