US Intel Report Paints Bleak Picture of China’s Economy

News Snapshot:

China's economic hurdles will likely increase as Xi Jinping doubles down on his state-directed approach to development, according to an assessment by the U.S. intelligence community. "During the next few years, China's economy will slow because of structural barriers and Beijing's unwillingness to take aggressive stimulus measures to boost economic growth," read the Office of the Director of National Intelligence's (ODNI) annual worldwide threat report released Monday. Instead of roaring back after the end of its lengthy "zero-Covid" lockdowns, China continues to suffer from what The Economist dubbed "economic long Covid." The symptoms include slowing growth, low consumer confidence, high...